India arrests journalist in IIOJK for 'anti-national' posts

A prominent journalist in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has been arrested by police and accused of "glorifying terrorism" and "spreading fake news" in the occupied territory, where a running press crackdown has intensified.

Fahad Shah, the editor of Kashmir Walla news portal, had already been questioned several times for his reporting by officers in recent years.

He had been arrested for "glorifying terrorism, spreading fake news and inciting general public", IIOJK police said on Saturday.

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A police statement that followed his arrest the day before added that Shah's Facebook posts had dented "the image of law enforcing agencies".

The Committee to Protect Journalists demanded Shah's release and called on Indian authorities to respect press freedom in IIOJK.

Shah's arrest demonstrated "authorities' utter disregard for press freedom and the fundamental right of journalists to report freely and safely", Steven Butler of the Washington-based watchdog said.

Dozens of journalists in IIOJK have regularly been summoned by police and questioned on their work since 2019, when New Delhi revoked the territory's partial autonomy and brought it under direct rule.

They have also been increasingly subject to harassment, arrests, raids and prosecution on "terrorism" related charges.

Over half a million Indian soldiers are deployed in the occupied territory, battling a running insurgency from freedom groups demanding Kashmir's merger with Pakistan.

The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians.