CIK teams conduct fresh search operations at residential locations across Kashmir in connection with a 2023 UAPA case. (Img: Dynamite News)
Srinagar: The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday carried out fresh search operations at multiple locations across the Kashmir Valley as part of its investigation into a 2023 case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The searches were conducted in Srinagar, Budgam and Anantnag districts in connection with FIR No. 07/2023 registered at Police Station CIK. The latest operations indicate that the investigation remains active more than three years after the case was originally registered, with intelligence and investigative agencies continuing to examine locations and individuals linked to the matter.
According to officials, CIK personnel searched a residential house in Srinagar. The individual associated with the premises was described as a graduate. However, officials have not disclosed further details about the person's alleged connection with the case or whether any material was seized during the operation.
In Budgam district, a separate CIK team, accompanied by personnel from the local police, conducted a search at another residential property. The operation was still underway when the initial report was filed.
The latest searches followed earlier operations by CIK teams at two residential houses in Bijbehara and another location in the Mattan area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
The operations in Anantnag were conducted with assistance from local police and revenue officials, indicating coordination among different administrative and law enforcement units during the search process.
With searches reported across several locations in the Valley, the investigation has expanded its operational focus across multiple districts. However, the precise nature of the material being examined and the specific leads prompting the latest searches have not been made public.
The searches are linked to FIR No. 07/2023, registered at Police Station CIK. The case invokes Sections 153-A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with Sections 13, 18, 18-A and 39 of the UAPA.
Section 153-A of the IPC concerns the promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds including religion, race, place of birth and language. Section 505 deals with statements conducing to public mischief in circumstances specified by the law.
The UAPA provisions cited in the FIR relate to unlawful activities and alleged involvement in or support for activities covered by the anti-terror legislation. Section 13 prescribes punishment for unlawful activities, while Section 18 concerns conspiracy and other preparatory acts relating to terrorist activities. Section 18-A addresses the punishment for organising terrorist training camps, and Section 39 deals with support given to a terrorist organisation.
The inclusion of these provisions indicates the legal framework under which the investigation is proceeding. However, the registration of an FIR or the conduct of searches does not by itself establish the guilt of any individual.
The latest operations are significant because they demonstrate that the 2023 case remains under investigation, with searches being carried out at residential premises across different parts of Kashmir.
For residents, such operations bring the activities of counter-intelligence and local police units into focus, particularly when searches take place in residential neighbourhoods. The involvement of local police and revenue officials also highlights the coordination required for conducting searches across multiple jurisdictions.
At the same time, the absence of publicly disclosed details about recoveries, detentions or the specific investigative leads means that the outcome of the operations remains unclear. It would be premature to draw conclusions about the involvement of anyone whose premises were searched.
