CIK Files Chargesheet Against Kashmiri Doctor, Wife for Allegedly Spreading False Narratives
The couple is accused of orchestrating and circulating false, fabricated, and distorted narratives about the situation in the region.
Srinagar: Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK), the premier investigative wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, on Wednesday submitted a charge sheet against a Kashmiri doctor and his wife before the Special NIA Court in Srinagar. The couple is accused of orchestrating and circulating false, fabricated, and distorted narratives about the situation in the region.
The accused, Dr. Umer Farooq Bhat—a resident of Bugam village in Kulgam and employed at a Government-run hospital here—and his wife Shahzada Akhtar, were detained by the CIK on November 18 last year. At the time of arrest, the couple was residing in Srinagar’s Sheeren Bagh locality. According to the CIK, both individuals allegedly misused their professional and social positions to facilitate unlawful activities.
The case, registered under FIR No. 05/2025 at Police Station CIK Srinagar, invokes Sections 152 and 62(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 13, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The CIK stated that credible intelligence indicated a “well-planned criminal conspiracy” involving Akhtar, member of the proscribed outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM), and her husband.
Investigators allege that the couple deliberately crafted and disseminated misleading content aimed at distorting the ground situation in Kashmir. According to the CIK, the accused used social media platforms—including encrypted messaging applications—to manipulate facts and spread narratives designed to promote secessionist and separatist sentiments.
The CIK’s statement highlights several key findings. It said the accused allegedly collaborated with members of the DeM to circulate misleading and inflammatory content. The material disseminated was purportedly intended to foster “disaffection, hatred, and enmity against the Union of India.” The couple is also accused of uploading content aimed at creating disharmony among religious communities, provoking radicalisation, and inciting violence. Their actions, according to investigators, posed a “serious threat to peace, tranquility, and the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.”
The agency added that sufficient evidence has been gathered to substantiate the charges under the BNS and UAPA. The charge sheet has now been formally submitted for judicial scrutiny.
In its initial statement on November 18, the CIK had noted that Dr. Umer Farooq, despite being a government employee, was allegedly involved in online unlawful activities. The agency claimed he misused his official position and social legitimacy to engage in behaviour detrimental to public order and national security.
The investigation also suggested that Akhtar played a significant role in radicalising local women through curated online and offline interactions. She allegedly promoted divisive narratives under the guise of community engagement, influencing vulnerable groups.
The developments come shortly after a Delhi Court, on March 25, sentenced Sayeda Asiya Andrabi, chief of the DeM, to life imprisonment in a UAPA case. Her associates, Nahida Nasreen and Fahmeeda Sofi, received 30-year sentences. The trio was arrested by the NIA in July 2018 from a Srinagar prison and is currently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
Reaffirming its stance, the CIK stated that it remains committed to safeguarding national security and maintaining public order. The agency emphasised that strict action will continue against individuals or networks involved in activities that threaten the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of the country.
