Journalist Sajad Gul booked under PSA, shifted to Kotbalwal jail
Inspector-General of Police Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar, on Sunday confirmed to The Kashmir Walla that Gul has been booked under PSA. Kumar on Sunday said, "He (Gul) has been booked under PSA and is at Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu."
Gul, who had been working as a trainee reporter at The Kashmir Walla since last December, was on Saturday granted conditional bail by a local court in Bandipora district in a case registered against him for hatching "criminal conspiracy".
The case was against his social media account being used to disseminate information "against the national interests" on the "dictation and guidance" from Pakistan based agencies.
The court had on Saturday directed police to release Gul against a bond of 30,000 rupees if he was not involved in any other crime. Meanwhile, Gul was also directed to cooperate with the investigation officer and not to leave Jammu and Kashmir without prior permission.
He was however not released as his name as per police had surfaced in another First Investigation Report (FIR) registered earlier this month under number 2/2022 under section 153B, 147, 148, 149, 307 Indian Penal Code.
Gul was arrested by police on 6 January and his arrest had triggered a wide condemnation from different quarters across the country and his immediate release was sought. Umair N Ronga, legal counsel for Gul, said that they will be filing for quashing of the PSA in the High Court once the grounds are received from the administration.
