Doda on Edge Following AAP MLA Mehraj Malik’s Detention
Doda: Tension gripped Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district and surrounding areas on Thursday after over 80 people were detained and violent clashes erupted between protesters and security forces following the arrest of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).
Prohibitory orders remained in place for the third consecutive day, with mobile internet and WiFi services continuing to be suspended as a precaution. The administration had invoked Section 163 of the BNSS Act on Monday, restricting public movement without prior permission.
Officials reported that the situation remained calm overnight, with no fresh protests. Security personnel continued to maintain vigilance across the district. Forces were deployed in large numbers in Doda town, Bhaderwah, Gandoh, and Thathri amid rising tensions over alleged administrative high-handedness. Concertina wires were erected near government offices to prevent any untoward incidents, while police vehicles patrolled the streets, urging residents to stay indoors.
Malik, who won the Doda assembly seat in 2024 by over 4,500 votes, was detained on Monday under the PSA for allegedly disturbing public order and was lodged in Kathua district jail. This marks the first time a sitting MLA in Jammu and Kashmir has been taken into custody under the law, which allows detention without charge or trial for up to two years in certain cases.
On Wednesday, protesters attempted to defy the restrictions, prompting security forces to carry out baton charges at three locations. Several protesters, including women, were detained during these clashes, though some were later released. Ex-BDC Kahara reportedly sustained injuries near Premnagar.
Sources said that since Wednesday, 80 people have been taken into preventive custody. Of these, 21—including five women—were shifted to Bhaderwah, while the others were moved to Kishtwar. Several detainees are expected to be released later on Thursday night.
All schools in the district will remain closed until Sunday, according to orders from the Chief Education Officer, and business establishments also remained shut. The district administration cited the volatile atmosphere following Malik’s detention, describing him as a government critic whose arrest was based on “provocative speeches and abusive language” on social media, allegedly aimed at disturbing public peace.
Malik’s father, Shamas Din Malik, appealed for his son’s release, stating he no longer wished to pursue the matter in courts. “I want my son back. I met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who said he would see what he could do,” he said.
The AAP has accused the Centre of politically targeting the party. At a protest in Jammu, AAP MP Sanjay Singh condemned Malik’s arrest, stating that the party would continue its struggle “against injustice on the streets, in Parliament, and if necessary, in the Supreme Court.”
Eight police personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police and a Station House Officer, were reportedly injured during the earlier clashes.
