The Counter Intelligence Kashmir of Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday conducted coordinated searches at 12 locations detaining 12 suspects for allegedly exploiting social media, human rights advocacy, environmental causes and women empowerment as a cover to carry out anti national activities.

The officials informed that the raids were carried out following authorisation from designated court in connection with a case registered in 2023 under sections 505 and 153-A IPC and sections 13 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The officials raided 12 locations across Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kupwara, Budgam and Shopian districts across the Valley during which 12 suspects were detained for questioning. “A substantial cache of incriminating digital material was seized, including 10 mobile phones, 01 laptop and 14 SIM cards, all of which are now under detailed forensic examination,” read the official statement.

The officials said that they possessed credible intelligence inputs indicating that certain individuals in J&K were “exploiting platforms linked to mass media, social media, human rights advocacy, environmental causes and women empowerment as a cover to carry out activities gravely prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and security of India.”

The official alleged that discreet verification has revealed their suspected links with “secessionist groups and proscribed terrorist organisations.”

Investigations have also revealed that some of these individuals were allegedly in contact with Pakistan-based terror handlers using encrypted communication applications.

“They are suspected to have been actively involved in peddling false narratives, glorifying terrorists and terrorism, radicalising impressionable youth, and systematically attempting to disrupt public order and peace in J&K,” read the official statement.

The officials claimed that the “operation has successfully dismantled a dangerous covert network that sought to exploit the credibility of social causes to advance terror agendas.” The seized digital evidence are being examined and officials claimed that they expect to unravel layers of the conspiracy.

“Further arrests cannot be ruled out as the investigation progresses…Investigation is on to unearth the full scale of the conspiracy, identify other conspirators and associates and expose their chain of communication with terrorist-secessionist handlers sitting across the border,” read the statement.

Meanwhile, police in Srinagar, recovered one Chinese hand grenade, 20 posters, 100 grams of gun powder and 10 AK-47 live rounds from a graveyard in Natipora area.

In Kupwara district of northern Kashmir, an Armyman Havildar Zubair Ahmad of the Army’s 13 J&K Light Infantry died in a landmine blast. The incident took place on Monday at Putaha Khan Gali in the Trehgam area of the border district.

In Udhampur of Jammu, armed forces intensified search operation in Majalta forest area where one policeman was killed and two others injured in the exchange of fire on Monday evening. The police officials claim to suspect presence of three infiltrators in the area one of whom might have been injured during the initial exchange of fire. A wreath-laying ceremony was held in Udhampur to pay tributes to slain constable Amjad Ali Khan of the 22nd Battalion of the Indian Reserve Police.