Srinagar, March 17 (UNI) J&K government has accused the editor of news portal The Kashmir Walla, Fahad Shah of propagating stories in line with “ISI agenda” and doing journalism as a cover to propagate his “anti national agenda”.
These are some of the allegations that are part of a dossier submitted before the District Magistrate of Srinagar, against journalist Shah who was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) earlier this week.
The dossier said the Kashmirwalla, posts stories that are against the interest and security of the nation, and that they mostly highlight the allegations of Kashmir conflict and “Indian state’s highhandedness”.
“Through your online news portal (theKashmirwalla.com), you are constantly propagating stories in a particular selective narrative which is in line with the ISI/separatist propaganda over the last two years you have followed a selective/particular pattern of disseminating anti-Indian sentiment in a very subtle manner though some of the stories are brazenly proactive as well,” the dossier read.
“Every citizen has a right to protest however the stories recorded above clearly reflect that a divisive attempt was made thereby provoking the ideology for street protest and violence. You legitimize and romanticize stone pelters and other instruments of violence,” it reads
Each heading of “your story” highlights the “propaganda content you seek to spread”, it adds.
The J&K Police also alleged that Shah’s “modus operandi” is to carry one or two stories per month which are based “entirely on the victimhood narrative.”
“Your modus operandi is to carry one to two stories per month which are based entirely on the victimhood narrative that portrays Anti-India sentiment, glorifies stone pelters, terrorits, and justifies separatism and violence,” it said, adding, “Your news portal extensively carries only one sided and selective stories of a particular singular Anti State narrative, while any other news item or story related to good governance, or positive intervention by GoI hardly finds any mentions in the online news portal (thekashmirwalla.com).”
The dossier also alleged that stories related to good governance, or positive intervention by Government of India hardly finds any mention in the online news portal.
The dossier said journalist activities are potentially dangerous for the peaceful atmosphere, tranquility and integrity of UT of J&K.
“In order to stop you from indulging in above activities, your detention under the provisions of J&K Public Safety Act, at this stage become imperative as the normal law has not been found sufficient to stop you from indulging in above activities,” it said .
Journalist Shah was first arrested on February 4 by the Pulwama district police under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He was booked for allegedly “glorifying terrorism”, “spreading fake news”, and “inciting” general public. After his arrest, the police said there were two more FIRs against him, in Srinagar and Shopian districts.
The NIA court gave him bail on February 26, but Shah was immediately re-arrested in an FIR in Shopian. After his bail by the Shopian court on March 5, he was arrested for a third time by the Srinagar police in a separate case.
