SRINAGAR, India
\nPolice in Indian-controlled Kashmir said they arrested a prominent journalist on accusations of publishing \u201canti-national content,\u201d in a widening crackdown against media in the disputed region.
\nFahad Shah, the editor of news portal Kashmir Walla, was summoned for questioning in southern Pulwama town on Friday and later arrested.
\nPolice said he was identified among Facebook users and portals that had published \u201canti-national content,\u201d without specifying what it is. It said the content was posted with \u201ccriminal intention\u201d to create fear and could \u201cprovoke the public to disturb law and order.\u201d It said such content was \u201ctantamount to glorifying the terrorist activities.\u201d
\nThe case relates to a gunfight between rebels trapped inside a civilian home and Indian troops in Pulwama on Jan. 30. Police had said a Kashmiri rebel commander was killed in the fighting along with a Pakistani and another local militant. They described the fourth slain teenage boy, the house owner\u2019s son, as a \u201chybrid\u201d militant, a term authorities began using last year for alleged militants with no police record and who operate as civilians.
\nKashmir Walla carried a series of reports on the fighting presenting both sides of the story. One video report quoted family members of the slain boy refuting the police. Another video quoted the boy\u2019s sister contradicting an earlier statement from the family.
\nShah, 34, was arrested under India\u2019s harsh anti-terror and sedition laws, which include punishment of up to seven years.
\nShah and few other reporters associated with Kashmir Walla have been questioned for their reporting several times in the last few years.
\nOn Saturday, police tweeted that Shah was wanted in three cases for \u201cglorifying terrorism, spreading fake news & inciting general public for creating L&O (law and order) situations.\u201d
\nThe award-winning journalist has also reported for several foreign publications.
\nKashmir is divided between India and Pakistan and both claim it in full. Since 1989, a full-blown armed rebellion has raged in the Indian-controlled part seeking a united Kashmir, either under Pakistani rule or independent of both.
\nThe region is one of the most heavily militarized in the world. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the raging conflict.
\nJournalists have long contended with threats in Indian-controlled Kashmir. But their predicament became worse after India revoked the region\u2019s semi-autonomy in 2019, throwing Kashmir under a severe security and communication lockdown. A year later, the government\u2019s new media policy sought to control the press to censure independent reporting.
\nDozens have been arrested, interrogated and investigated. Fearing reprisals, local press has largely wilted under pressure.
\nLast month, police arrested journalist Sajad Gul after his tweet linked a video clip of a protest against Indian rule following a rebel\u2019s killing.
\nAlso in January, a few journalists supportive of the Indian government, with assistance from armed police, took control of the Kashmir Valley\u2019s only independent press club. Authorities shut it down the following day, drawing sharp criticism from media watchdogs.
\nThe New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists asked Indian authorities to \u201cimmediately and unconditionally\u201d release Shah and \u201cdrop any investigation into his work and cease detaining members of the press.\u201d
\nSteven Butler, CPJ\u2019s Asia program coordinator, said in a statement the arrest \u201cshows Jammu and Kashmir authorities\u2019 utter disregard for press freedom and the fundamental right of journalists to report freely and safely.\u201d
\n\u201cAuthorities must immediately release Shah, and all other journalists behind bars, and cease detaining and harassing journalists for simply doing their jobs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SRINAGAR, India Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir said they arrested a prominent journalist on accusations of publishing \u201canti-national content,\u201d in a widening crackdown against media in the disputed region. Fahad Shah, the editor of news portal Kashmir Walla, was summoned for questioning in southern Pulwama town on Friday and later arrested. Police said he was identified […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-242812","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n