Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a Washington-based media watchdog, has called on the Indian authorities to immediately release Fahad Shah, founding editor of The Kashmir Walla portal and drop investigation into his work and stop detaining media persons.

Shah was arrested on Friday evening by the police in Srinagar city of Indian-administered Kashmir. He has been booked for alleged sedition and making statements causing public mischief. Three days before his arrest, he a long with other journalists was questioned by the police for “incorrect reporting” over a gunfight in Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Reacting to the same, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator Steven Butler called on authorities to immediately release Shah, and all other journalists behind bars.

“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,” he added.