Article 370

NIA agent Zooni Haskar poses as a manicurist to coerce Sabia, the girlfriend of terrorist leader Burhan Wani, into giving up his whereabouts. With this intel, she orchestrates an unauthorized operation aiming to eliminate Wani. The mission succeeds with Wani killed in a gunfight and without civilian casualties at the compound.

The killing is seized as a martyrdom by Yakub Sheikh's circle, who use the event to rally support and orchestrate a leadership shift, replacing Wani with Zakir Naikoo. They back covert political moves to destabilize the state and solidify their influence. The incident becomes a catalyst for agitation across Kashmir.

The unauthorized operation draws heat from higher-ups, and Zooni is reprimanded and transferred to New Delhi. The move symbolizes a higher-level clampdown on field operations in Kashmir. Her career trajectory shifts from frontline action to central oversight.

Rajeshwari Swaminathan questions Kashmir's stability and urges discussions on abrogating Article 370 with the support of Jagmohan Patil. To stabilize the situation after Wani's elimination, the NIA is brought into Kashmir to investigate terror cases more comprehensively. The policy move sets the stage for a broader Kashmir strategy.

Salahuddin Jalal arrives in Delhi and is guarded by Zooni, who has been demoted after Wani's neutralization. This assignment keeps Zooni close to the central action while her Kashmir role remains a political flashpoint. The visit intensifies the interplay between Delhi and Kashmir politics.

Parveena Andrabi meets Rajeshwari to discuss the Kashmir crisis and criticizes the central government's operations without state approval. The exchange highlights the friction between centralized decisions and local governance. It foreshadows the path toward Governor's Rule and abrogation strategies.

On his way to meet the Prime Minister, Jalal tells Zooni about her father Kabir, a whistleblower framed in the J&K Bank scam, who was found dead in a lake. The revelation adds personal stakes to the political struggle over Kashmir's status. Zooni's resolve hardens as the investigations deepen.

Rajeshwari informs Zooni that Kashmir is under Governor's Rule and asks her to consider returning to lead the abrogation drive. Zooni initially refuses but agrees to come back if two more team members are allowed on the mission. This sets the stage for a renewed Kashmir operation from the center.

In Srinagar, Zooni's team, including Namita Chaturvedi, Gaurang Sengupta and Ashish Mattoo, analyzes a stone-pelting incident in Anatang funded via cash transfers. They deduce the involvement of a dry fruit contractor and broaden the probe to tapping phones for code-names. The investigation reveals a more complex funding network.

Phone taps reveal code-names that map to arch-angels, including Jibril, who is revealed to be Abdali. Abdali is an ISI asset and a double agent working for Khawar, a former senior of Zooni who under pressure reveals his location. The revelation exposes a deeper conspiracy within the insurgent network.

Zooni and CRPF secure Abdali in custody, but he injures himself to stall the investigation while Jalal and Andrabi attempt to form a coalition government. The capture is a tactical win but the overarching power struggle continues in the valley.

Chauhan and other soldiers' bus is bombed in retaliation for Wani's death, triggering a brutal escalation. Zooni interrogates Yakub Sheikh, who identifies Naikoo as the mastermind, and Khawar is removed from his position for again aiding the separatists. The incident intensifies the crackdown and drives the abrogation effort.

The government coordinates on abrogating Article 370 and Zooni recovers a vital document hidden in a Kashmir library. The operation outlines steps to manage unrest, arrest anti-Indian elements, and mislead media, with support from Khawar to mislead Pakistan. It marks a critical technical victory in the process.

The bill passes in the Rajya Sabha as Zooni kills Naikoo, delivering a symbolic victory and enabling the abrogation of Article 370. The PM, Home Minister, Rajeshwari and the NIA team celebrate the outcome, marking a major political shift in Kashmir.