Srinagar, 18 March – The Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a man for allegedly sharing extremist content online. The accused, Showkat Ahmad Dar, 28, lives in Doodh Mohalla, Srinagar. His arrest was made by the Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) unit.
According to officials, Dar ran a Facebook account called ‘Shaddy Kashmir Dryfruits,’ where he posted content that praised terrorism and militant leaders. His posts were said to encourage anti-national feelings and disturb peace in the area.
Dar was caught after special teams from social media companies flagged his posts. Once they received this information, the police quickly started an investigation, which led them to identify Dar and his social media account.
Tracking Dar was initially difficult because he kept changing his location. However, when police examined his digital devices, they found access to his Facebook account and some troubling materials, including a video of a slain terrorist commander, Zakir Musa, and other extremist content. Musa was killed in a clash with security forces in Pulwama in May 2019.
Officials noted that Dar has a history of radical activities. He was arrested in 2019 for participating in stone-pelting incidents and was detained by the cyber police in Srinagar in 2022 for sharing radical content online.
The CIK highlighted the role of online monitoring teams, stating that social media platforms have set up special teams to watch for radical propaganda in Jammu and Kashmir. When they spot such activities, they report them to security agencies right away.
These joint efforts by security forces and social media companies have helped break up several radical groups and identify potential terrorists.
The investigation into Dar’s activities and those of his associates is still ongoing, and further legal action will follow.
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