Jammu and Kashmir police have arrested a man in Jammu under the Official Secrets Act for circulating a document related to “security” on his WhatsApp groups.

Reports claim the document was related to the withdrawal of security of some VIPs in Jammu and Kashmir. It was widely shared on social media but has since been taken down.

The police identified him as Tarun Bahl and confirmed taking him into police remand for four days.

Bahl’s social media accounts say he is “editor chief” of Sree News Group, which includes “The Sree Times” and “The Daily Aasman Newspaper”. Their screenshots show both are registered newspapers but it could not be independently confirmed.

His social media friend list includes politicians, journalists and police officers.

A police statement in Jammu said he was arrested under various sections of the Official Secrets Act but it did not refer to him as a journalist.

The action was initiated against him after the Channi Himmat police station in Jammu received information that a “secret document issued by police headquarters containing details with regard to security” was in circulation in “WhatsApp group, The Sree Times and Aasman newspaper handled by Tarun Bahl with malafide intention to spread misinformation”.

“During the investigation, Tarun Bahl was arrested and taken into police remand for four days,” the statement said.

It said further investigation was on. The police also asked media outlets and WhatsApp group administrators not to upload and circulate any information or documents that can “jeopardise the security and sovereignty of the nation otherwise strict action will be taken against those who act irresponsibly”.

The police statement said an FIR under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 49 (punishment of abetment, if the act abetted, is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment) and Section 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) had been registered.

The action comes two days after a few Srinagar-based news outlets said a case under the Official Secrets Act was registered in Shergari police station in Srinagar city for the leak of sensitive documents that “detailed reductions and withdrawals in security for various protected persons”. The police did not contest the report.

It appears the Srinagar FIR is also linked to the same police document.