All commercial establishments — including banks – in the hilly district of Doda in Jammu and Kashmir remained closed Wednesday as the administration imposed prohibitory orders amid escalating protests after the detention of MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act.
Malik, the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) lone MLA in J&K, was detained under the PSA earlier this week on the grounds of being “a threat to public peace” following his alleged provocative speeches and abusive language on social media.
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.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh arrived in Jammu following Malik’s detention.
Meanwhile, Doda remained tense Wednesday as several protesters joined the march to the district headquarters. This came after police lathi charged and used tear gas as protesters who reached Doda and Thathri towns resorted to stone pelting and attempted to break through police barricades.
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.
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Sent to Bhaderwah jail, Malik 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.
Recently, a video emerged purportedly showing Malik abusing the Doda Deputy Commissioner, Harvinder Singh, over the issue of shifting a health sub-centre. While Malik alleged his recommendation in the matter was ignored, the DC claimed the MLA wanted the administration to allow the sub-centre to function in a building built by one of his supporters on state land and pay him monthly rent.
In May, police registered an FIR against him for allegedly using objectionable language for a woman doctor at Doda Government Medical College. The doctor had accused Malik of using social media platforms to issue threats and level “abusive, gendered and derogatory remarks” against her.
