Srinagar court issues proclamation, declares three absconders for spreading anti-India content online

Srinagar: A special court in Srinagar has issued a proclamation against Mubeen Shah, Azizul Hassan Ashai and Rifat Wani in a case of their alleged involvement in anti-national propaganda and secessionist misinformation on social media.

The action has been taken by a special Judge designated under the NIA Act in Srinagar, under Section 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, against the accused persons named in and FIR registered at police station of Counter Intelligence Kashmir.

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They informed that the case pertains to offences under Sections 153-A & 505 of the IPC and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

"Case was registered on the basis of credible intelligence inputs revealing a well-orchestrated conspiracy by unscrupulous anti-social and anti-national elements operating at the behest of secessionist forces within and outside the Valley," read the official statement of CIK.

The officials stated that the investigation have exposed that the.accused were "masquerading as news portals, journalists and freelancers."

"In reality weaponising 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," read the statement.

It further stated that "deliberate objective of this digital misinformation campaign was to incite street violence, disrupt normal life, damage public property, disturb public order and fuel mass unrest, thereby promoting anti-national sentiments and advancing a secessionist agenda aimed at creating disaffection against the Union of India."

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Shah and Ashai alias Tony Ashai are from Srinagar while Wani hails from Kupwara in northern Kashmir. They are living outside the country for many years now. Shah, a prominent businessman and former president of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, left the country soon after he was temporarily released from jail in December 2019.

He was arrested in August 2019, when Article 370 and 35 (A) was abrogated and the erstwhile state of J&K was downgraded into the two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. Shah was based out of Malaysia. Ashai is based out of California in United States of America for many years now while Wani was in Germany.

The officials claimed that the accused were found to be actively propagating content "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, spreading false and fabricated narratives with the clear intent of instigating disaffection against the Union of India."

They further stated that following the issuance of warrants of arrest, the accused persons went underground and are absconding to evade the process of law. "...Failure to comply will invite stringent proceedings under Section 83 Cr.PC, including attachment of property," read the official statement.

The officials said that despite being declared absconders, "the accused are notorious for their continued hostile activities and remain highly active on social media platforms, where they persist in peddling false, fabricated and provocative content with the intention of inciting large-scale violence and destabilizing public order in the Union Territory of J&K."