Iltija Mufti's X account withheld in India over separatist content FIR
Synopsis
Iltija Mufti's X account has been blocked in India following a Cyber Police FIR over a video featuring late separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The PDP leader's daughter, already a vocal critic of state restrictions, now faces digital censorship — a move that underscores the government's hardline approach to Kashmir's online political discourse.
Key Takeaways
Iltija Mufti's X account has been withheld in India under a legal demand from Cyber Police Srinagar .
11 was registered under BNS provisions alleging the video promoted separatist narratives and could disturb public order.
The FIR was filed after circulation of a video clip featuring late Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani .
Iltija Mufti claimed sole responsibility for sharing the content and urged authorities not to target those who reposted it.
She contested the 2024 Assembly elections from Bijbehara in Anantnag district but lost to NC candidate Dr Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri .
Srinagar, May 11 — The X account of Iltija Mufti, daughter of People's Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has been withheld in India following a legal demand from authorities. Users attempting to access her account within India now see a notice stating that access has been restricted in compliance with a legal request.
The withholding comes days after Cyber Police Srinagar registered FIR No. 11 under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alleging that online content she shared promoted separatist narratives and could disturb public order. The FIR was filed following the circulation of a video clip featuring late separatist Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
What triggered the FIR
The Cyber Police action centres on a video featuring Geelani, a prominent separatist figure whose death in September 2021 sparked widespread unrest in Kashmir. The circulation of the clip on social media prompted the police to investigate the source and those who shared it, leading to the FIR against Iltija Mufti.
Iltija's response
Iltija Mufti publicly stated that she alone bears responsibility for sharing the video and urged authorities not to target those who merely reposted or interacted with her content. She has been a vocal critic of punitive action against separatists, arguing instead that meaningful dialogue is the only path to resolving Kashmir's political tensions. She has contended that restrictions and arrests only deepen public grievance and erode trust in institutions.
Pattern of restrictions
This is not the first time Iltija Mufti has faced official action. She has repeatedly opposed authorities' use of restrictions, including house arrests of her mother and other political leaders, which she views as counterproductive. Last year, she evaded her personal security detail by leaving her mother's residence in the middle of the night and later appeared in Poonch district in the Jammu division, underscoring tensions between her and the administration.
Electoral defeat and political stance
Iltija Mufti contested the 2024 Assembly elections from Bijbehara constituency in Anantnag district, her ancestral hometown, but was defeated by National Conference (NC) candidate Dr Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri. Despite the electoral setback, she remains active in public discourse, particularly on Kashmir's political future.
What's next
The X account withholding is likely to remain in place pending the outcome of the FIR investigation. Legal experts have noted that such account restrictions, while temporary, raise questions about the balance between national security concerns and freedom of expression in digital spaces.
Point of View
The timing — days after her electoral defeat — raises questions about whether this is law enforcement responding to genuine security concerns or political pressure masquerading as order maintenance. Her argument that punitive action breeds grievance rather than resolving it has historical weight: Kashmir's cycle of restrictions followed by unrest suggests deterrence alone has not worked. The real test will be whether the government uses this moment to engage her substantive critique of policy or simply silence it.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Iltija Mufti's X account withheld?
Her X account was withheld in India following a legal demand from authorities after Cyber Police Srinagar registered an FIR alleging that online content she shared promoted separatist narratives and could disturb public order. The FIR centred on a video clip featuring late Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
What is the FIR against Iltija Mufti?
Cyber Police Srinagar registered FIR No. 11 under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following the circulation of a video featuring late separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The FIR alleges that the content promoted separatist narratives and could disturb public order.
What did Iltija Mufti say about the video?
Iltija Mufti publicly stated that she alone bears responsibility for sharing the video and urged authorities not to target those who merely reposted or interacted with her content. She has argued that meaningful dialogue, not punitive action, is the path to resolving Kashmir's political tensions.
Has Iltija Mufti faced restrictions before?
Yes. She has repeatedly opposed authorities' use of restrictions, including house arrests of her mother and other leaders. Last year, she evaded her personal security detail by leaving her mother's residence at night and later appeared in Poonch district in Jammu division.
What is Iltija Mufti's political background?
She is the daughter of Mehbooba Mufti, PDP President and former J&K Chief Minister. Iltija contested the 2024 Assembly elections from Bijbehara constituency in Anantnag district but was defeated by National Conference candidate Dr Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri.
