• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBoSE) has cancelled the Class 10 and Class 11 examinations scheduled for September 10, while internet services remain suspended as curfew-like restrictions were imposed in Doda district on Tuesday. The measures follow massive protests and clashes over the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik. Security forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, including Gandoh, Bhalessa, Chilli Pingal, Kahara, and Thathri, as students and residents staged demonstrations demanding the MLA’s release. Fresh exam dates will be announced later.

ALSO READ: J-K Floods: Land Sinking Destroys Homes, 2 Schools In Poonch; Dozens Displaced Amid Relentless Rain

What Is Public Safety Act, 1978 (PSA) 

Malik, who represents the Doda constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, was booked under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 (PSA), which allows a person to be jailed for up to two years without trial or prosecution. 

In many cases related to separatists, this preventive detention law has been repeatedly used in J&K to keep individuals in jail indefinitely. It is also known as “revolving door detention,” as once a person is released by the court, they are often re-detained under the PSA. Malik was detained on Monday on the grounds that his activities were prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.

According to reports, action against him has been taken after due consideration of all relevant materials, reports and circumstances clearly establishing that the continuance of such activities by a member of the Legislative Assembly posed a grave threat to peace, public order and tranquillity in a district.

Preventive detection under PSA was found necessary in the interest of maintaining public order and safeguarding law and order in the region. 

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Meet MLA Mehraj Malik Father 

As protests continued in Doda with demonstrators demanding the release of MLA Mehraj Malik, his family met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar. Expressing solidarity, Abdullah shared a photo with Malik’s father and other family members, describing the arrest as “unjustified” and a “blatant misuse of power.”

"The Chief Minister reiterated that the use of PSA against the Hon'ble MLA is completely unjustified and a blatant misuse of the powers of preventive detention (sic)," Mr Abdullah noted in a post on X (formerly Twitter). 

Omar Abdullah Questions His Arrest 

1. Earlier, Abdullah questioned what sin the MLA had committed that warranted slapping the PSA against him.

2. The Chief Minister said the arrest of the MLA would further erode people’s faith in democracy.

3. He pointed out that the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir has no authority over police and law and order, which remain under the control of the Centre and the Lieutenant Governor.

4. Abdullah added that if the MLA had said something inappropriate, “it could have been corrected in the Assembly under the guidance of the Speaker.”

5. Massive protests in the Doda region have taken the administration by surprise.

6. Police used tear smoke shells and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

ALSO READ: 'It Was Sher-e-Kashmir': Omar Abdullah Slams Waqf Board Over Installing Emblem At Hazratbal Shrine, Calls Move 'Unnecessary'

7. Several people, including a police officer, were injured during the clashes, according to official sources.

8. Control orders were issued yesterday as protests spread to different areas.