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Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir have arrested a outstanding journalist accused of publishing “anti-national content material” as a part of a widening clampdown on media within the disputed area.
On Saturday, police tweeted that Fahad Shah was wished in three circumstances of “glorifying terrorism, spreading faux information and inciting common public for creating L&O (legislation and order) conditions.”
Shah serves as the editor of reports portal Kashmir Walla. He was questioned by authorities in southern Pulwama city on Friday and subsequently arrested.
Police mentioned Shah was recognized amongst customers of Fb and different on-line portals who had revealed content material that had a “felony intention” to spark concern and will “provoke the general public to disturb legislation and order.”
Gunfight report linked to the arrest
Shah’s arrest is believed to be related to a gunfight inside a civilian home between Kashmiri rebels and Indian troops in Pulwama on January 30. Police had mentioned a insurgent commander was killed within the hostilities together with a Pakistani and one other native militant. The fourth particular person killed was the home proprietor’s teenage son. The authorities described the youth as a “hybrid” militant, a time period police started use for alleged militants with no police file and who function as civilians.
The Kashmir Walla web site carried a collection of studies on the gunfight presenting each side. One video report quoted relations of the slain teenager refuting the police. One other piece of footage quoted the boy’s sister which contradicted an earlier assertion from the household.
Journalism underneath the microscope
Lately Shah has come underneath rising scrutiny over his reporting. He had already been questioned by cops a number of instances referring to his media work, lengthy earlier than Friday’s arrest.
Shah’s detention illustrated the “utter disregard” authorities have within the area “for press freedom and the elemental proper of journalists to report freely and safely,” mentioned the pinnacle of the Committee to Defend Journalists’ (CPJ) Asia program, Steven Butler.
Dozens of journalists in Indian-controlled Kashmir have usually been summoned by police and questioned for their work since 2019, when New Delhi revoked the territory’s partial autonomy, bringing it underneath direct rule.
jsi/dj (AP, AFP)
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