Srinagar, Aug 12: Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir are grappling with a growing menace of ‘Digital Jihadis’ also called as “bedroom jihadis” — individuals operating from their homes to manipulate social media, spread misinformation, and incite communal discord. Unlike armed terrorists, these actors wage a digital war, often directed by handlers across the border in Pakistan.
Investigations have uncovered networks of fake social media accounts controlled by terror groups and sympathisers in Pakistan, pushing inflammatory content to provoke sectarian clashes and destabilise the region. The phenomenon first surfaced in 2017 but waned after the 2019 abrogation of J&K’s special status and strict internet curbs. However, following last year’s assembly elections, such activities have resurged, allegedly to destabilise the elected government.
Officials said scrutiny of thousands of posts, comments, and private messages revealed direct links between these online campaigns and handlers in Pakistan. During recent Muharram observances, one provocative post triggered tensions between Shia and Sunni communities, but swift police intervention prevented escalation.
Former DGP Kuldeep Khoda stressed that while traditional terrorism remains a concern, the “digital battlefield” is now a major front where external forces exploit local tensions. The challenge lies in the speed at which rumours spread and influence youth.
Recently, personal details of Kashmiri Pandit employees under the Prime Minister’s rehabilitation scheme were leaked online to instil fear. Police traced the act to a local youth working under cross-border instructions and made an arrest.
Officials describe “bedroom jihadis” as individuals who can, “while sitting on their bed or sofa, plant fake news in chat groups, potentially plunging the UT into communal unrest.” Fake X (formerly Twitter) accounts are widely used to push anti-India narratives.
Despite the difficulty of “finding a needle in a haystack,” law enforcement has blocked accounts, nabbed suspects, and made preventive detentions of those linked to the online campaigns. The reach of such propaganda extends beyond J&K, drawing participation from youth in Delhi, other parts of India, and abroad.
Authorities emphasise the need for constant vigilance to counter this evolving threat, which blends virtual warfare with real-world consequences.
