Counter Intelligence Wing Uncovers Cyber Terror Mule Accounts in Jammu and Kashmir

In a significant operation, the Counter Intelligence Wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police has uncovered numerous mule accounts linked to cyber terrorism. Conducting raids across the Valley, officials aimed to dismantle networks involved in cyber fraud and terror financing. This crackdown comes amid rising concerns over ISI's attempts to revive local terror cells. With heightened security measures, including a ban on VPNs, authorities are working to combat the misuse of digital platforms for funding terror activities. The National Investigation Agency is also probing connections between these accounts and recent attacks, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by security agencies in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 7, 2026, 14:59 IST

Raids Uncover Cyber Fraud Networks

New Delhi, Jan 7: The Counter Intelligence Wing (CIK) of Jammu and Kashmir Police has conducted extensive raids linked to a cyber terror investigation, revealing numerous mule accounts.

These operations spanned multiple locations throughout the Valley, where investigators discovered a significant number of active mule accounts.

The primary goal of these raids was to dismantle accounts involved in cyber fraud and those facilitating terror financing.

Following specific intelligence, the CIK targeted around 22 sites in the Kashmir Valley.

According to officials, the raids aimed to identify individuals connected to a network that was illegally transferring funds for terror-related purposes.

This crackdown occurs amid efforts by the ISI to rejuvenate local terror cells in Jammu and Kashmir, especially as infiltration attempts have become increasingly challenging.

In response, police have heightened security measures across the region, both physically and in the digital realm, including a ban on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

An Intelligence Bureau official noted a surge in online activities by ISI-affiliated groups attempting to utilize mule accounts for financial transactions aimed at establishing terror infrastructure.

Additionally, funds are reportedly being used to re-establish Over Ground Worker (OWG) networks, with plans for an all-female OWG network in the region.

The crackdown on VPN usage began this month, with officials identifying 140 individuals for violating the ban, including 100 in Pulwama alone.

So far, actions have been initiated against 49 individuals for breaching the VPN restrictions, according to police reports.

There has been a persistent effort to utilize mule accounts for financial transactions in Jammu and Kashmir, with agencies previously identifying around 7,000 such accounts linked to Pakistan.

These accounts, belonging to various individuals and businesses, are reportedly manipulated by remote fraudsters.

Funds deposited into these accounts are quickly transferred elsewhere, with some being converted into cryptocurrency to evade detection.

Cybercrime officials assert that many recent terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir have been financed through these mule accounts.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is currently examining whether the attackers involved in the Pahalgam incident received funding through these accounts.

It is believed that once the assailants arrived in Pahalgam, money was transferred to them via mule accounts.

These accounts are often controlled remotely from Pakistan, allowing the ISI to fund terror activities with minimal risk of detection.

Typically, such accounts are linked to elderly or deceased individuals, obscuring the true identity of the operators and complicating tracing efforts.

Transactions involving these accounts often pass through multiple banks, further complicating tracking.

Intelligence reports indicate that this situation poses a significant challenge for security agencies, which are collaborating with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and various banks to address the issue.

Recently, the RBI Innovation Hub launched MuleHunter AI, a sophisticated system designed to identify and neutralize mule accounts and related activities.

A trial with two public sector banks showed promising results, and this technology will soon be implemented across all banks nationwide.