Security forces in Kashmir, particularly in its volatile south, are allegedly prying into cellphones of residents during roadside searches, raising privacy issues in a state where militants use social media to propagate their agenda and garner mass support.

Even as officials denied it was routine policing practice, dozens of incidents have been reported in recent weeks in which security forces have checked photos, videos and WhatsApp messages of civilians on their smartphones.

And if anything "incriminating" related to militancy is found in the gallery of smartphones, a beating might follow, as happened with Mohammad Nadeem of Kulgam, who was on his way to Srinagar on his motorbike on July 2 when he was stopped by security forces near Awantipora.