Kashmiri Pandit activist Rakesh Handoo arrested in Haryana

Police have arrested Rakesh Handoo, a Kashmiri Pandit activist, in Faridabad, Haryana, in connection with threat letters circulated in August. The letters, which reportedly contained the names and contact details of Kashmiri Pandit employees in the Kashmir Valley, caused widespread panic and led hundreds of government recruits to stay away from their workplaces for nearly three weeks.

Handoo has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various cyber-related provisions. Inspector General of Police Sujit Kumar stated that investigators had gathered “substantial and serious clues” regarding Handoo’s involvement. The arrest follows Handoo’s failure to appear in Baramulla despite repeated summons following an FIR registered on September 21.

The incident occurred amid a broader security crackdown in the region, during which authorities arrested over 3,000 individuals suspected of being overground workers for militant groups. The threat letters specifically targeted employees appointed under the Prime Minister’s special employment package for Kashmiri Pandits.