Over 2,000 concerning social media posts were identified in the past month, compared to 89 during the same period last year. These posts, appearing on platforms like Facebook, X, Telegram, and the Dark Web, promote terrorism, secessionism, and threats against India.
This surge in online activity coincides with a sharp decline in local recruitment by terror outfits. Only four individuals from J&K joined such groups this year, compared to 22 in 2023 and 113 in 2022.
A senior security official told TOI that this surge in online propaganda aims to radicalize J&K youths, reminiscent of the social media campaign that turned Hizbul Mujahideen’s Burhan Wani into a terror icon before his death in 2016.
The official also added that the attempts at raising local recruitment may not point to plans for a troubled winter but to preparations for heightened terror activity in the summer of 2025.
The decline in local recruitment is attributed to the government’s tough stance against terrorism, which includes targeting terrorists and dismantling their support systems.However, the recent change in power equation after the newly elected government in J&K is being investigated as a possible factor in the increased online activity. Agencies are looking into whether the change in power dynamics has emboldened Pakistan-based terrorist groups.Drone activity also remains a concern, with 40 sightings reported in J&K until October this year, compared to 31 during the same period last year.
With inputs from ToI
