SRINAGAR: The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) Tuesday conducted extensive raids across multiple districts in the Kashmir Valley, arresting suspects and seizing digital devices, mobile phones, and seditious materials linked to a newly floated militant outfit “Tehreek Labaik Ya Muslim” (TLM).
The recruitment module, an offshoot of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was allegedly orchestrated by a Pakistan-based handler identified as Baba Hamas. The raids were part of an ongoing investigation to dismantle militant networks in the Kashmir, according to a statement from the CIK.
“CIK conducted searches at multiple locations in districts srinagar, ganderbal, bandipora, kulgam, budgam, anantnag, and pulwama on 22.10.2024, busting a recruitment module run by a newly floated terrorist organization, ‘tehreek labaik ya muslim’ (TLM), an offshoot of LeT headed by @baba hamas, a Pakistani terrorist handler,” they said.
“The searches were conducted at 10 locations in different districts of the valley in pursuance of a search warrant issued by the honorable court of special judge, designated under NIA act, srinagar, in case FIR no. 06/2023 u/s 153-A, 505, 121 & 120-B ipc r/w 13 & 39 UA(P) act. This case pertains to a larger conspiracy hatched by proscribed terrorist organizations operating within J&K and across the LoC at the behest of Pakistani agencies, in connivance with their OGWs, supporters, facilitators, and sympathizers in the Kashmir valley, continuously creating new terror modules (gangs). By misusing various social media applications, they lure Kashmiri youths through radicalization, provocation, and instigation, intending to involve them in unlawful and terrorist activities or to recruit them into terrorist ranks for furthering these organizations’ objectives,” the statement continued.
“Based on information and evidence developed by P/S CIK, it was found that ‘@baba hamas,’ a terrorist handler of LeT, is planning to float a new terrorist organization called ‘tehreek labaik ya muslim’ (TLM), an offshoot of LeT. This plan involves the OGWs, supporters, facilitators, and sympathizers of terrorist groups in Kashmir, with active backing from Pakistani agencies, intending to further terrorist activities in the region. Additionally, it was found that ‘@baba hamas’ provides seditious material and directions to these groups through various covert and encrypted social media applications, aiming to radicalize youths and entice them to join the terrorist ranks of the newly formed organization,” the CIK added.
“The module remains in contact with handlers and members of terrorist organizations across the border. They are using encrypted internet messaging platforms, among other software applications, which prompted the searches at 10 locations in the valley. Alongside the arrests, incriminating materials such as digital devices, SIM cards, mobile phones, laptops, and seditious content related to the case were recovered and seized,” they said.
“It is noteworthy that this newly formed terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for several incidents, including a fire at a panchayat ghar in the Seer area of district pulwama and another in a remote village in doda (though not corroborated on ground). The group has also been involved in putting up posters in South and Central Kashmir and on social media platforms, aiming to glorify terrorism and radicalize youths to join this outfit.”
“The ongoing investigation is focused on dismantling the terror ecosystem in the union territory, identifying over ground workers (OGWs) who support and abet terrorism, and ensuring legal action under the law of the land,” the CIK concluded. (KDC)
