“Bedroom Jihadis” Pose Growing Digital Security Challenge in Jammu & Kashmir

Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir are facing an evolving threat in the form of so-called “bedroom jihadis” — individuals who operate entirely from their homes, using social media to spread extremist propaganda, incite communal tension, and undermine peace in the region. Unlike traditional militants, these actors rely solely on digital tools to wage their campaign.

Officials say many of these online propagandists are linked to handlers across the border in Pakistan, forming part of a larger coordinated strategy by terror outfits. They create fake accounts, circulate inflammatory content, and manipulate sensitive issues to provoke unrest, targeting both religious and political fault lines.

The trend first emerged in 2017 but significantly weakened after strict internet controls were imposed following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. However, intelligence sources report that the phenomenon has resurfaced in recent months, particularly since the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, with renewed efforts to destabilise governance and social harmony.

Investigations have traced thousands of provocative posts, comments, and private messages back to these digital operatives. In a recent incident during Muharram, an inflammatory post that could have sparked sectarian clashes in Srinagar was quickly identified and neutralised by local police, averting possible violence.

Former Director General of J&K Police Kuldeep Khoda emphasised that such threats represent a shift in the nature of insurgency, where battles are increasingly fought in the information domain rather than on physical battlefields. He warned that misinformation spreads rapidly online, making timely detection and counteraction essential.

Authorities are now enhancing cyber-monitoring capabilities and collaborating with national agencies to counter this emerging digital menace, recognising that “bedroom jihad” could have far-reaching consequences if left unchecked.