ISI handles Hafiz Saeed's Twitter accounts: Intel sources

New Delhi: Even as the row continues over alleged Laskhar-e-Tayyaba support to JNU protests, Central intelligence agencies have claimed LeT patron and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed is running multiple Twitter accounts which are being handled by Pakistan’s ISI which is covertly running his social media propaganda.

Intelligence sources say the ISI is keen to fish in troubled waters and smells a favourable situation currently to spark further tension and trouble within India. Indian agencies have decide to request social media platforms Twitter and YouTube to ban Saeed’s accounts and videos where anti-India propaganda has been launched.

Read: Hafiz Saeed supported JNU event, says Rajnath Singh

Officials claimed that “India-centric” tweets and social media propaganda have deliberately been launched at the behest of Saeed using Hindi language and raking up domestic issues to tap the sentiments of the vulnerable youth.

The Central agencies responsible for cyber surveillance and cyber threats has taken cognisance of the matter and will approach the relevant authorities to block such anti-national and seditious content.

Sources in the intelligence agencies claimed there are several accounts of Saeed for his social media propaganda.

Incidentally, the fresh claim by the intelligence brass also comes at a time when it turned out that the alleged anti-India tweet by Saeed that set the alarm bells ringing in the Delhi police and found mention in home minister Rajnath Singh’s warning about Saeed backing JNU protests, was reportedly fake.

Read: Have nothing to do with JNU protests: Hafiz Saeed on Rajnath’s claims

While the Central agencies have not issued any alert based on such tweets, the Delhi police posted the tweet to warn several states of the LeT threat and deter students from anti-national activities. Now, a section in the intelligence brass believes that it is the handiwork of the certain ISI officials who are tasked to run Saeed’s social media campaign against India.

“We will approach Twitter India which in turn can raise the matter with the US-based parent company to deactivate Saeed’s accounts. Hopefully, it will be done soon,” a official said.

It may be recalled that earlier, Twitter had blocked several accounts operated by Jamaat-ud-Dawa, headed by Saeed, following requests from security agencies in different countries, including India and the US. However, such accounts again cropped up after a gap of several months.

The alleged fake account of Saeed had recently asked Pakistanis to support the JNU students who are protesting against the registration of a case of sedition against JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar. It had also asked users to trend the topic #PakStandWithJNU with the posts sparking a huge controversy.

Last Sunday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said the event organised at JNU to protest against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru had the backing of Saeed. Later, the Home Ministry clarified that Singh’s statement was not based on the tweet but on inputs from different agencies.