Social media influencer booked for promoting terrorism, downplaying lawful regime: J&K Police

Kashmiri influencer charged for promoting terrorism on social media, facing legal action for violating guidelines.

A Kashmiri social media influencer, running several handles, including ‘Wounded Kashmir’ and ‘Lacerated Kashmir’, was chargesheeted for “promoting terrorism” and “downplaying the lawful administrative regime”, the J&K Police said on Saturday (March 8, 2025).

A spokesperson of the State Investigation Agency (SIA), a special wing of the J&K Police, said a chargesheet (challan) had been filed against a handle on social media platform X before the designated special court in central Kashmir’s Budgam under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act. 

The SIA said the comprehensive chargesheet against the accused had been filed for the commission of crimes under Sections 153-A of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, for judicial determination.

The SIA said that an extensive technical investigation had resulted in the identification of X handles of Irfan-U-Haq of Kawoosa Khalisa, Budgam district. including ‘Lacerated Kashmir’, ‘The Resistance Kashmir’, ‘Maimed Kashmir’ and ‘Wounded Kashmir’. “The accused had created multiple Twitter [now called X] accounts under pseudonyms to conceal his identity from law enforcement agencies,” the SIA spokesperson said.

The social media accounts were being operated by the accused person “to spread secessionist ideology, promoting terrorism and downplaying [the] lawful administrative regime”, the SIA said, adding, “Besides, he has also shown disrespect to the Indian National Flag through his Twitter posts.”

On Friday (March 7, 2025), the J&K Police said it had taken “firm action to prevent the misuse of social media platforms” by booking six individuals for creating fake accounts, and “sharing content glorifying terrorism that could potentially disturb public peace and incite disruptive activities”.

The police said these individuals were found using fake social media accounts to propagate “misleading and unlawful content”. “Legal action has been initiated against them as per the preventive detention laws,” the police said