Journalist held for anti-national social media posts: J&K Police

A statement issued by the district police in Pulwama 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 & order”.

The police said that during the course of investigation into the matter under FIR No. 19/2022, Shah was arrested and placed in police remand. “The investigation into the matter is in progress” the statement said.

Shah was called for questioning by the police on February 1. On Friday, he was called to record his statement at the Pulwama police station after which the police issued the statement confirming his arrest.

Former J&K Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Twitter, “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 Fahads will you arrest?”

The digital magazine, started in 2011, reports on news and other socio-cultural issues from J&K.

Last month, Sajad Gul, a trainee reporter with thekashmirwalla, was also arrested for posting tweets allegedly aimed at “provoking the people against Govt and to spread animosity.” Gul has since been booked under provisions of the Public Safety Act.