Yashraj Sharma flew from Delhi to Srinagar on February 5, the day after 32-year-old Fahad Shah, editor of The Kashmir Walla, or TKW, was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Yash says the trip was a call of duty for him as he had chosen TKW to do his internship in 2018, believing he could fathom in Srinagar why people hit the streets at the killing of a militant. In those days, TKW did not have an office. Fahad and he met at a coffee shop. Yash asked, “Who are TKW members?” Fahad replied, “You and I will launch TKW.”  

This was not strictly true, for Fahad started TKW in 2011, editing pieces submitted gratis and writing stories as well. The website would not be regularly updated, then not at all between 2014 and 2016, when Fahad won a scholarship to study in London. On his return, even as he wrote for publications at home and abroad, Fahad decided to revive TKW in 2018. They rented a place, swept and swabbed it, hired furniture and staff. They brought youthful exuberance to TKW, which began earning revenue from Facebook and Google ads and receiving donations.