India freezes 8,000 bank accounts in IIOJK, label youth as “digital hawala operators”
Srinagar: In yet another step to curb Kashmiris’ freedom of economic and digital expression, Indian Central agencies in collaboration with police have frozen over 8,000 bank accounts across Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, branding them as part of a “digital hawala” network.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the crackdown has been justified under the pretext of preventing cyber fraud and anti-India activity. Indian authorities claim that mule account holders, or “mulers,” maintain accounts that are allegedly used by cybercriminals to receive and move money.
Officials pointed fingers at alleged handlers based abroad, including in China, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia, claiming they direct local youth to operate these accounts. The Indian authorities warn that the funds could be diverted to pro-freedom or anti-India activities, presenting the sweeping freeze as a “security measure.”
Critics and observers in the occupied territory say the crackdown is another pretext to restrict Kashmiris’ freedom of financial and digital activity. They note that labeling ordinary bank users as “digital hawala operators” provides a justification for coercive surveillance, intrusion into personal finances, and the growing militarisation of everyday life in the Valley.
“This is not merely about cyber fraud,” a local analyst said. “The Indian state is using the narrative of ‘digital hawala’ to portray Kashmiris as anti-India while tightening control over their economic space. Accounts of ordinary citizens can be frozen at will, restricting livelihoods and independence.”
Indian Police have urged banks and financial institutions to remain vigilant, while the authorities have emphasized that violations will be treated as offences under Indian law. Observers warn that such measures, under the guise of preventing digital crime, serve to suppress dissent, intimidate youth, and extend state surveillance deep into civilian life.
The freezing of accounts and clampdown on VPNs underscores a continuing pattern in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where normal economic, digital, and social activities are increasingly subjected to scrutiny, labeling, and punitive action.
