Ishfaq-ul-Hassan
SRINAGAR—Jammu and Kashmir police arrested the editor of an online portal allegedly for “glorifying terrorism and causing disaffection against the country.”
Fahad Shah, editor of `The Kashmirwala’ was arrested on Friday evening. Shah is the second journalist to have been arrested in Kashmir for the last one month.
Last month, police booked Sajad Gul of `The Kashmirwala’ under stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) and shifted him to Kot Balwal jail in Jammu.
Police said it was reliably learnt that some Facebook users and portals have been uploading anti-national content including photographs, videos, and posts with criminal intention to create fear among the public.
“The content so uploaded can provoke the public to disturb law and order. 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 and disaffection against the country,” police said.
Police said the activities by some Facebook users amount to the commission of cognizable offences. Accordingly, Pulwama Police registered a case under relevant sections of the law and initiated the investigation.
“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,” police said.
Police on Saturday said Fahad Shah is wanted in three cases for glorifying terrorism, spreading fake news, and inciting the general public for creating law and order situations.
The arrest has sparked a fresh wave of anger in Jammu and Kashmir and discontent among media fraternity. Leading the chorus in J&K is former chief minister and PDP president Mehbobba Mufti. Editors Guild of India, the topmost journalist body in the country, has vehemently condemned the arrest of Fahad Shah. EGI has demanded immediate release of Fahad as also Sajad Gul who was arrested a few weeks ago for alleged objectionable posts on social media.
“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?” Mehbooba tweeted.
People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone cautioned the administration that it would not change anything. “What times we are living in. Just a word of caution for the administration. This is not the worst that we in Kashmir have seen. We have seen even worse in the nineties. That didn’t change anything. This won’t change anything either. Take my humble word for it,” he said.
