In a significant legal move aimed at clamping down on digital secessionist campaigns, a designated National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Srinagar issued a formal proclamation on Tuesday against three individuals of Kashmiri origin. The court directed them to appear before it by January 31, 2026, in connection with a case filed by the Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) wing.
The Accused and Their Alleged Roles
The court's proclamation names Mubeen Ahmad Shah and Azizul Hassan Ashai (alias Tony Ashai), both residents of Srinagar, and Rifat Wani from Kupwara. Investigators have established that all three have been living outside India for an extended period.
Mubeen Shah, a prominent figure, formerly served as the president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His detention occurred a day before the historic abrogation of Article 370. After his release from Agra jail in December 2019, he subsequently left the country.
CIK's Stance on "Weaponized" Social Media
In an official statement, the CIK described the court's ruling as a major crackdown. The agency accused the individuals of masquerading as news portals, journalists, and freelancers. Their alleged real activity involved weaponizing major social media platforms.
"These elements were... weaponizing social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and WhatsApp to create, upload, and circulate fake, motivated, exaggerated, secessionist, and out-of-context content," the CIK statement asserted.
The statement further elaborated that the deliberate objective of this campaign was multifaceted and dangerous:
- To incite street violence and disrupt normal life.
- To damage public property and disturb public order.
- To fuel mass unrest and promote anti-national sentiments.
- To advance a secessionist agenda aimed at creating disaffection against India.
Continued Activities as Absconders
Despite being declared absconders in the case, the CIK alleges that the accused remain highly active and notorious for their continued hostile activities online. The agency claims they persistently peddle false, fabricated, and provocative content.
The stated intention of this ongoing activity, according to the CIK, is to incite large-scale violence and destabilize public order in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This legal proclamation marks a formal step to bring them before the court to face these serious charges.
