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The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s reported move to profile Kashmir’s mosques, its ideology and the caretakers on Tuesday (January 13, 2026) evoked sharp criticism from political and Muslim religious leaders, who described it as “intrusive” and “threatening”.
A spokesperson for the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), a conglomerate of Islamic religious organisations in J&K, described the police profiling as “intrusive”. “It seeks information regarding mosques, their management committees, Imams, Khatibs and individuals associated with places of worship and even their family members,” the MMU, headed by Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said.
According to the MMU, the police were distributing multi-page forms and sought “highly personal and sensitive information”.
“These details, including private identification details, family particulars, financial information, phone details, digital and social media profiles, passport details, travel history and even Phone IMEI details other personal data of all those connected with running and management of mosques,” the MMU said.
The MMU said the mosque’s ideological sect, like Barelvi, Hanafi, Deobandi or Ahle-Hadith, was also being sought. “Such an unprecedented and invasive data collection exercise has caused widespread anxiety among religious institutions, Imams, Khateebs and the public in general,” the MMU said.
“This exercise is in complete violation of fundamental rights and the right to privacy and personal information even guaranteed under the Constitution. Mosques are sacred institutions meant for worship, guidance and community service, and their internal religious affairs cannot be subjected to arbitrary surveillance and intrusive scrutiny,” it added.
‘Govt. must intervene’
The MMU sought intervention of the elected government in this matter. “Such an exercise must be stopped forthwith, as it undermines trust, creates fear among religious functionaries and sends a disturbing message to the Muslim community. Measures that single out mosques and religious personnel in this manner are unjustified, counterproductive and harmful to social harmony,” the MMU said.
It also urged the authorities to withdraw this exercise without delay and “respect the autonomy of religious institutions, and uphold the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, privacy and dignity of citizens”.
NC MP condemns move
Ruling National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah also condemned the move. “Police, intelligence agencies, and paramilitary forces are targeting religious institutions in a way that singles out certain faiths. This is not a routine law-and-order issue. It is a project of a particular right-wing ideology which wants to control religions that do not conform to the RSS worldview,” Mr. Ruhullah said.
Stating that the Constitution guaranteed practise and propagation of religion without fear, Mr.Ruhullah said, “Extra layers of monitoring beyond existing databases like Aadhaar signal intimidation and potential interference in sermons, turning religious practice into a controlled activity. Tomorrow, mosque preachers may be told what sermons to deliver and what not to deliver. That would mean the functioning of religion itself is being brought under control,” the MP said.
He said singling out religious institutions “conveys a dangerous and destabilising signal”.
Staggering overreach: JKPC leader
J&K Peoples Conference leader and Shia cleric Imran Reza Ansari also expressed concern over the move. “The profiling of mosques and religious staff in Kashmir is a staggering overreach that demands a serious rethink. Even during the Valley’s darkest and most volatile periods, we never saw this level of intrusion into the sacred space of the masjid,” Mr. Ansari said.
He said this level of granular surveillance, treating spiritual leaders as “Persons of Interest is a direct blow to their dignity”.
“For the alleged mistakes of a few, an entire faith and its practitioners cannot be subjected to collective punishment and systemic suspicion. The practical fallout will be devastating. We have many pious government employees and professionals who lead Salah in their local mosques out of pure devotion. Faced with this level of harassment and data-mining, many will simply refuse to lead prayers to protect their privacy and livelihoods,” Mr. Ansari said.
The J&K Police have neither disputed nor confirmed the allegations of profiling of mosques and the caretakers in Kashmir.
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