Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 3

The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday carried out coordinated searches at eight locations across six districts of Kashmir as part of an investigation into an alleged Pakistan-backed militant network dating back to 2015, officials said.

The searches, conducted under court-issued warrants, targeted the residences of several suspects identified during the course of the investigation into alleged links with cross-border militant handlers, sleeper cell networks, recruitment activities and radicalisation efforts, officials said.

According to police, the operation relates to FIR No. 02/2015 registered at Police Station CIK Srinagar under provisions of the Foreigners Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Arms Act.

Searches were conducted simultaneously at two locations each in Srinagar and Bandipora districts, and one location each in Kupwara, Anantnag, Kulgam and Sopore in Baramulla district, officials said.

The suspects were identified through intelligence inputs, technical analysis, source reports and preliminary investigations, according to police.

During the raids, investigators seized mobile phones, laptops, other electronic devices and documents for forensic examination.

Officials said the searches were conducted in accordance with legal procedures and in the presence of witnesses and local police personnel.

Police said the case concerns broader networks allegedly involved in facilitating militancy, radicalising youth, disseminating extremist propaganda through encrypted communication platforms and maintaining contacts with handlers based in Pakistan.

The latest searches were launched following fresh leads that emerged through ongoing surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts, officials said.

“These searches are part of our continuous efforts to dismantle support ecosystems that sustain terrorism in the Valley. The seized digital material is expected to provide crucial leads into cross-border linkages and local facilitators,” officials said.

No arrests were made during Wednesday’s operation, police said, adding that the investigation remains ongoing and that further questioning of suspects and analysis of the seized material could lead to additional developments.