Prohibitory orders, internet suspended in Doda amid protests against MLA Mehraj Malik’s PSA arrest

The AAP has accused the central government of targeting the party – at a protest in Jammu, the party MP Sanjay Singh said the outfit would “injustice on the streets, in Parliament, and, if necessary, in the Supreme Court”.

According to sources, although Doda Additional Deputy Commissioner said the ban was on the assembly of four or more people under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), people “mistook” it for curfew.

The order also warned of punitive action for violations.

Following the order, vehicles kept off roads and educational institutions remained closed. The Jammu Kashmir State Board of School Education postponed exams for Classes 10 and 11 scheduled for Wednesday.

Internet services also remained disrupted across the district for the second straight day, although officials attributed it to technical snags.

Meanwhile, except for a protest by a small group of people on the Bharat Road on the outskirts of Doda, the situation remained largely peaceful in the district. Police swung into action and took some of the protestors into custody while others fled.

However, there were protests in Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi and Kishtwar districts. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh, who along with the party’s MLAs from Delhi, joined the protest in Jammu.

Describing Malik’s detention as “illegal”, “unconstitutional” and an attempt to silence the voice of an elected public representative, Singh accused the authorities of misusing a law “intended for terrorists” against AAP MLA “because he was demanding a hospital for people in his constituency”.

“They have previously jailed Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and even me. Today, Mehraj Malik has been imprisoned,” Singh said, adding that the party will strategise its next course of action in consultation with party workers in Jammu.

The PSA allows the administration to keep a person under preventive detention without trial, if it is satisfied that his remaining free might disturb public order and peace, or threaten security of the state.

Malik, who was sent to Bhaderwah jail, was named in 18 FIRs and 16 daily diary reports at different police stations in Doda district, officials said. They alleged he was increasingly causing disturbance to public order, especially at a time when the district administration was busy initiating relief measures for people hit by recent heavy rains and flash floods in far off areas of the hilly district.

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