Cyber Police intensify crackdown on radicalisation, terrorism glorification

Srinagar, Apr 3: In a major crackdown on anti-national activities on the internet, Cyber Police Kashmir has stepped up its efforts to track and counter radicalisation, disinformation, and terrorism glorification in the last three months. The agency has detected and acted against 200 negative social media accounts engaged in propagating extremist content, of which half were run from outside the country.

As per officials, a number of these identified accounts have been suspended to check their impact. Legal action, including the registration of various First Information Reports (FIRs), has been taken against influential propagators who have been spreading anti-national narratives. Security proceedings are also being initiated against those who have been found to be involved in such illegal activities. The Cyber Police Kashmir, in coordination with other security and intelligence agencies, has been actively tracking social media sites to identify and neutralise terrorism-associated narratives. Law enforcement officials disclosed that online platforms are being used more and more to provoke violence, propagate propaganda, and radicalize susceptible individuals, threatening national security severely.

As a response, strict legal actions have been imposed under concerned criminal acts to discourage individuals involved in online extremism. Cyber Police authorities stated strongly that strict actions in the form of arrests and monitoring are being initiated against digital extremism and to eliminate the misuse of cyberspace for illegal purposes. As a measure to counter-radicalisation, Cyber Police Kashmir has also moved ahead proactively to de-radicalize persons exposed to radical online content. Some persons exposed to radical material online have been counselled and later handed over to their respective families. This exercise is geared towards deradicalizing young persons and deradicalizing them to forestall their induction into extremist circles.

“Without being punitive, our strategy is preventive as well. We are seeking to identify and recondition those who have become victims of radical ideologies on the internet. Counseling and community intervention continue to be an integral part of our strategy," police officials added. Jammu and Kashmir Police renewed their determination to protect national security in physical and cyber spaces. Officials have cautioned against social media abuse and advised citizens to be on the lookout for online disinformation campaigns.

The Cyber Police also called upon people to report anything unusual on the internet to the authorities. They indicated that stopping cyber extremism is everyone's job and that it is important for people to come forward and work with the police in keeping the online environment a safe and secure one. Cyber Police Kashmir again asserted that it would remain committed to further active surveillance and enforcement activities and would ensure that cyberspace was not misused to spread terror or disrupt public order.