‘Narrative terrorism’: Chargesheet filed against Kashmir Walla editor, PhD scholar over 11-year-old article

Earlier this week, the Jammu and Kashmir state investigation agency filed a chargesheet against the Kashmir Walla editor Fahad Shah and research scholar Abdul Aala Fazili in a case of “narrative terrorism” – a report filed by Fazili for Shah’s website 11 years ago.

The chargesheet was filed on October 13. Scroll quoted the agency as saying: “The case relates to narrative terrorism wherein as part of a criminal conspiracy to spread terrorism and create a false narrative, accused Fazili, by his highly provocative and seditious write-up, intended to create unrest, and aid and abet the gullible youth to take the path of violence.”

This “highly provocative” article – headlined “The shackles of slavery will break” – was published on November 6, 2011. Fazili had been arrested in April in connection with it and was booked under the UAPA and other penal charges. The agency had also conducted raids on his home, the Kashmir Walla office, and the home of Shah. In July, both Shah and Fazili were denied bail by an NIA court in Jammu.

Shah had first been arrested on February 4 in Pulwama for sharing “anti-national” content on social media. In March, he was booked under the Public Safety Act. Read Newslaundry’s report on how his arrest reveals a pattern in how Kashmir journalists are targeted.