New Delhi – The National Investigation Agency has conducted searches across five states as part of its investigation into a cyber-terror case involving alleged attacks on government websites during Operation Sindoor.
The searches were carried out in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Bihar and Delhi, with investigators recovering digital devices and documents that they said contained material relevant to the alleged hacking activity.
The case was registered in Gujarat and concerns alleged Distributed Denial-of-Service attacks on 54 websites belonging to Central Government entities.
Investigators are examining allegations that the attacks targeted government computer resources and critical information infrastructure during the period of Operation Sindoor.
According to the NIA, the attacks were allegedly intended to disrupt government systems and create fear while threatening national security and sovereignty. These are allegations under investigation and have not been established through a final judicial finding.
The scale of the investigation is significant because the searches have spread across several states, reflecting the difficulty of tracing cyber operations that can involve people, devices and digital infrastructure located in different parts of the country.
Unlike a conventional attack, a cyberattack can be carried out remotely, with investigators having to reconstruct the activity from electronic evidence, communications and other digital trails.
The NIA said its teams seized electronic devices and documents during the searches. The material will now form part of the investigation into the alleged cyber activity.
The case also highlights a growing concern for governments around the security of critical digital infrastructure.
Government websites and computer systems increasingly carry public services and sensitive information. Disruption of such systems can affect the functioning of departments even when there is no physical attack.
The investigation is continuing and further action will depend on the evidence collected by the agency.
For now, the NIA operation places cyber security alongside conventional security concerns in the continuing investigation of activities connected with Operation Sindoor.
