Rakesh Handoo, a Kashmiri Pandit activist, was taken into custody by police from Greater Faridabad on Oct. 17 2023 after a warrant issued on Oct. 15 charged him with cyber‑terrorism under the UAPA.
In August, a wave of threat letters targeting Pandit employees in Jammu and Kashmir rattled the community, prompting the Prime Minister’s special employment scheme to place hundreds of workers on administrative leave for nearly three weeks.
Inspector General Sujit Kumar confirmed that security teams had tracked Handoo’s involvement through digital footprints and a series of intercepted messages detailing plans to intimidate staff by name and contact.
The arrest follows a broader crackdown that saw more than 3,000 suspects detained for alleged support of terrorist outfits, with the police labeling them as Over‑Ground Workers (OGWs).
Pandit community leader Sanjay Saraf condemned the move, calling it “unfortunate” and demanding a review of the charges, citing the community’s long‑standing trauma from past attacks.
Handoo is scheduled to appear before a special tribunal in Srinagar on Nov. 5, where his prosecution under the UAPA will likely set a precedent for future cases involving political activism and cyber‑terrorism.