Cellphone ‘prying’ during searches sparks privacy concerns in Valley

Security forces in Kashmir, particularly in its volatile south, are allegedly prying into cellphones of residents during roadside searches, raising privacy issues in a state where militants use social media to propagate their agenda and garner mass support.

Even as officials denied it was routine practice, dozens of incidents have been reported in which forces have gone through the contents in a civilian’s phone.

And if anything “incriminating” related to militancy is found, a beating might follow, as happened with Md Nadeem of Kulgam, who was travelling to Srinagar on July 2 when forces stopped him near Awantipora.

Nadeem said the personnel went through his photos and WhatsApp messages. “Suddenly, one of the personnel noticed a photo of a militant-funeral. Infuriated, he asked me to stand by the roadside and take off my shirt,” the 30-year-old said.

He said he had participated in the LeT commander Bashir Lashkari’s funeral a day before where he had clicked few photographs.

“They hit me with sticks and gun-butts, and kicked me.”

DIG, south Kashmir range, SP Pani denied knowledge of the incident, saying if such things happen, complainants should contact the police. “I cannot tell you if this is a general practice because I have not come across any such cases myself... But if you know somebody has undergone such an incident, they can report it. Without knowing whose phone was checked and where, I cannot say anything about it,” Pani said.