The Jammu Kashmir Police, on Friday evening, arrested Journalist Fahad Shah, editor of Srinagar-based magazine The Kashmir Walla.
The Police said in its press release, “It was reliably learnt by Pulwama Police 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 & order.”
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“It was also learnt that these Facebook users are uploading such posts which tantamount to glorifying the terrorist activities and causing dent to the image of law enforcing agencies besides causing ill-will & disaffection against the country.”
“As the aforementioned activities by some of the Facebook users amounts to commission of cognizable offences by them, accordingly Pulwama Police while taking cognizance of the matter registered a case vide FIR No. 19/2022 under relevant sections of the law and initiated the investigation,” the Police said.
The police further said that during the course of the investigation, “one accused person identified as Fahad Shah was arrested. The accused is on police remand. The investigation into the matter is in progress.”
It is pertinent to mention that journalist Fahad Shah was called in for questioning on January 31, along with journalist Majid Hyderi, in connection with a case registered following an encounter in Pulwama, wherein the forces had claimed that four militants had been killed. Apparently, the two were summoned for “incorrect reporting.”
Fahad confirmed on his Twitter handle on Tuesday that he had returned home after questioning.
Fahad Shah’s magazine The Kashmir Walla had reported the version of the family, who on record, claimed that their son Inayat killed during the encounter in Pulwama on January 30 was innocent and not a militant, a claim which was denied by Jammu Kashmir Police.
A member of The Kashmir Walla confirmed the arrest to The Kashmiriyat over the phone and said Fahad had been summoned by the Police. “He left the office around 4 p.m. and did not come back. We have not been formally told of the charges yet,” he said.