Low-intensity blast near Jama Masjid in already tense Doda

Police have taken two individuals into custody for questioning.

DIG Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar range, Shridhar Patil, said that the police and FSL teams are on the job to ascertain details.

Significantly, the blast came amidst tension in the hilly Doda district following the detention of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act on grounds of being a threat to public peace.

Malik, who has multiple FIRs registered against him and has his name mentioned in at least 16 daily diary reports of the police, was detained under the PSA for a period of one year on Monday.

His supporters came out on the roads to protest the next day, prompting police to resort to lathi charge and teargas shells. On Wednesday, the administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 263 of the BNS, banning the assembly of four or more people at a public place.

Except for the BJP, all mainstream opposition parties, including the National Conference, Congress and the PDP, have criticised Malik’s detention under the PSA as a direct attack on democracy.

The BJP welcomed the detention, saying Malik was a habitual offender.

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