Kashmiri Journalist Fahad Shah was arrested on Friday by the Jammu and Kashmir Police for allegedly posting “anti-national content”. Shah is the editor-in-charge of The Kashmir Walla, an independent news portal based in the valley.
Shah was summoned to Pulwama police station to record his statement, but later issued a statement confirming his arrest.
On 01 February, Shah was called for interrogation but released later that evening.
A statement issued by the district police in Pulwama district stated that “some Facebook users and portals have been uploading anti-national content including photographs, videos and posts with criminal intention to create fear among public and the content so uploaded can provoke the public to disturb law and order.”
Journalists swiftly condemned the arrest.
“Standing up for the truth is deemed anti-national. Showing the mirror to a deeply intolerant & authoritarian government is also anti-national. Fahad’s journalistic work speaks for itself & depicts the ground reality unpalatable to GOI. How many Fahad’s will you arrest?” former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.
Last month, Sajad Gul, a trainee reporter with The Kashmir Walla was also arrested for social media posts and booked under PSA.
This story first appeared on maktoobmedia.com