Srinagar, July 29, 2022 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Dhar granted anticipatory bail to the interim editor of The Kashmir Walla, Yashraj Sharma in an FIR registered in Police Station, Imamsahib in Shopian.

Advocate Nazir Ronga, counsel representing the journalist, contended before the court that the petitioner is a resident of Rajasthan and feels safety concern in approaching the court of 1st instance at Shopian, keeping in view the prevailing situation.

The council also contended that Fahad Shah, who is co-accused in the said FIR, has already been admitted to bail by the court of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Shopian. Furthermore, it was also contended that the contents of the impugned FIR do not disclose the commission of any offense against the petitioner Yash Raj Sharma. The court issued notice to the IIOJK authorities and admitted the journalist Yashraj Sharma on interim anticipatory bail subjected to certain conditions.

Pertinently, the Editor-in-Chief of the news website The Kashmir Walla Fahad Shah is already in detention under draconian law, Public Safety Act (PSA) and is lodged in Kupwara jail. Earlier, after being booked in different cases by three districts – Pulwama, Shopian, and Srinagar – Fahad Shah was subsequently booked under the PSA. This is the fifth case in which he was booked.

Fahad Shah had been lodged at the District Jail, Kupwara since March 2022. This followed his arrest three times and securing bail twice. He was arrested for publishing the narrative of the families of the victims of the fake encounters that was against the police version.

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