How NIA infiltrated WhatsApp groups in Kashmir to checkmate terrorists

Scores of numbers found on these groups were sourced by the NIA officials which aided their probe.

To catch a criminal, one needs to think like one. This is exactly what a group of officials from the National Investigation Agency did to track down scores of WhatsApp groups operating to fuel tensions in the Kashmir Valley.

Groups such as "Pulwama Rebels" had been formed. There were several members on these groups and the messaging would take place in coded language. While some groups were restricted to send messages to pelt stones, others spoke about the landing of money to be paid off to the separatists.

NIA officials infiltrated each of these groups and watched the proceedings. At times, they even spoke acting as though they were facilitating the crime. A lot of details came out of this exercise. It was also found that most of these groups were outside India. There were groups with administrators in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

Scores of numbers found on these groups were sourced by the NIA officials which aided their probe. The NIA was able to with the help of the Intelligence Bureau identify the landing points for the money. The officials were also able to pre-empt stone pelting incidents as the information came out real time.

NIA officials part of the probe tell OneIndia that a majority of these groups operated to activate stone pelters. Admins of these groups would keep a close watch on the situation in the Valley and trigger off stone pelting.

The probe into the Hurriyat Terror Funding case being probed by the NIA is at a crucial stage at this moment. The NIA has roped in the Income Tax Department to check into the accounts and other documents seized during the raids it conducted recently. Once these documents are verified, the NIA would probe more separatists. While going after the big guns, the NIA wants to be armed with solid and thorough evidence, officials also say.

OneIndia News