Kashmir Police Crack Down on Social Media Misuse Amid Rising Concerns

Police in Kashmir are intensifying efforts to combat the misuse of social media platforms, as a new trend sees youth employing separatist imagery, allegedly to monetise online fame. This development has raised significant concerns, particularly regarding the radicalisation process, with Srinagar police actively tracking social media sites to counter it. This modus operandi was discovered after several youths behind such accounts were detained.

In a recent incident, police in north Kashmir’s Bandipora arrested a youth identified as Sajad Naseer Bhat of Naidkhai Sumbal. Bhat was apprehended for "glorifying" Mohmad Yasin Malik, head of the proscribed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), and other separatist leaders on his social media accounts. Police stated that Bhat had "deliberately uploaded photos" to his social media handle to "disturb law and order".

The arrest, which occurred on April 3, 2025, followed routine cyber surveillance where police identified Bhat for "posting content that promoted militancy and extremist ideologies". An FIR has been registered at Sumbal police station, and further investigation is underway.

Bandipora police have declared they are "actively monitoring social media platforms" to identify individuals engaged in spreading extremist content, inciting violence, or attempting to disrupt public order. They issued a stern warning, stating that "any attempt to glorify terrorism, promote secessionist ideologies, or spread misinformation against national integrity will be dealt with strictly under the law". Furthermore, police urged social media users to act responsibly, emphasising that "stringent legal action, including prosecution under relevant laws, will be taken against those found misusing digital platforms for unlawful purposes".