New York, February 05, 2022 (PPI-OT):The US-based media watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists has urged the authorities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Fahad Shah, drop any investigation into his work, and cease detaining members of the press.

Indian police arrested Fahad Shah, editor of The Kashmir Walla, on Friday evening on the charges of posting anti-India content on social media. Police claimed that Shah had been identified among some Facebook users and [news] portals that had published anti-India content, but did not mention any specific content.

“The arrest of Fahad Shah shows Jammu and Kashmir authorities’ utter disregard for press freedom and the fundamental right of journalists to report freely and safely,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, in Washington, D.C.

“Authorities must immediately release Shah, and all other journalists behind bars, and cease detaining and harassing journalists for simply doing their jobs,” he added.

Earlier, on 1 February, Shah was called for interrogation but released later that evening.

The global press body said, Shah told CPJ in a telephonic interview before his detention that police had questioned him on 1 February about The Kashmir Walla’s coverage of a cordon and search operation conducted by Indian troops on 30 January, which was published on the outlet’s website and its official Facebook page.

The CPJ also claimed that they repeatedly called Kashmir Police Director-General Dilbag Singh and Pulwama Police Senior Superintendent Ghulam Geelani, and contacted them via messaging app for comment, but did not receive any replies.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org