J&K: Cyber Police Book Iltija Mufti, Others for Sharing Geelani Video

According to sources, the case was initiated after an old video clip, shared recently by Mufti on the social media platform 'X', came to the notice of law‑enforcement authorities. The video features separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani addressing a gathering at an unidentified location.

In the undated video, the late separatist leader is heard emphasising the importance of the Urdu language, asserting that a substantial body of Islamic religious literature “across India, Pakistan, and Jammu and Kashmir” has been preserved in Urdu. The speaker claims that the decline of the language would deprive the region of a significant cultural and religious asset. He also alleges that efforts by India are underway to undermine this linguistic heritage, with assistance from “people imposed on us,” a remark widely interpreted as a reference to mainstream political leadership in Kashmir.

In the footage, Geelani urges parents to ensure their children learn Urdu and suggests that students returning from English‑medium schools should be provided Urdu instruction at home.

The PDP leader who shared the clip on social media accompanied it with a personal remark stating that, while there may be disagreement with the separatist leader’s broader ideology, the video’s emphasis on the importance of Urdu was relevant and “worth a watch.” She said, “May not concur with Geelani Sahab’s ideology but this old video of him stressing on the importance of Urdu very well makes sense in addition to other reasons. Worth a watch".

The post appeared amid an ongoing political campaign opposing recent changes in recruitment rules within the Jammu and Kashmir revenue department, particularly the removal of Urdu as a mandatory subject in examinations for vacant posts such as tehsildars and patwaris. The campaign alleges that the government has deviated from long‑standing administrative practices.

Earlier this week, while addressing the media, Mufti questioned earlier and recent government orders related to language use in revenue administration and squarely blamed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for alleged official antagonism towards Urdu. Reference was made to a 2015 directive issued during Abdullah’s previous tenure in the revenue department that mandated digitisation exclusively in English, resulting in the sidelining of Urdu. She claimed that following this shift, revenue officials had raised concerns about increased discrepancies, noting that most historical land and revenue records are maintained in Urdu.

The PDP leader also drew attention to a more recent notification issued earlier this month, under which amendments were made to the Revenue Recruitment Service Rules. Under the revised provisions, eligibility criteria for posts such as patwari and tehsildar were altered, with graduation becoming the primary qualification requirement, without a mandatory Urdu component.

Sources confirmed that FIR No. 11 has been registered at Cyber Police Station against Mufti and others under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with acts threatening the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. The FIR also names unidentified individuals for allegedly sharing and amplifying the video on social media platforms.

Sources said that, acting on credible inputs regarding the circulation of videos and other digital content across various social media platforms, the police initiated action after the material was found to be promoting separatist ideology and spreading false information. According to the sources, the content appeared to be crafted with the intent to incite unlawful activities that could threaten the peace, sovereignty, and integrity of India.

Initial findings from the preliminary enquiry suggest that the circulation of this material was a deliberate attempt to amplify separatist and secessionist narratives through online channels. Officials noted that such activities carry the potential to provoke public disaffection, disrupt public order, and undermine national integration.

Based on the information gathered so far, the acts in question prima facie constitute cognizable offences punishable under Sections 152, 196(1), and 353(1)(b), (c), and (2) of the BNS. Consequently, FIR No. 11/2026 has been registered at the Cyber Police Station, Srinagar, under the aforementioned provisions, and a formal investigation is now underway.

Authorities have advised the general public to refrain from creating, sharing, or circulating unlawful or inflammatory content on social media and other digital platforms. Officials emphasised that any individual found involved in such activities will face strict legal action in accordance with the law.