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Srinagar, Five Kashmiri youth have been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), a contentious law, in Baramulla and Bandipora districts in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian police took this action on Tuesday, lodging the detainees in Kot Bhalwal Jail, Jammu.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the five detainees—Maqsad Ali Kohli, Muhammad Usman Butt, Ghulam Nabi Wani, Ghulam Din War, and Firdous Ahmad Khan—were charged under the PSA, a law that allows for detention without trial for up to two years. The BJP-led administration in Jammu and Kashmir claimed that the youth were involved in ‘anti-India and pro-freedom activities.’
The PSA has faced significant criticism for its use in Jammu and Kashmir, with human rights groups denouncing it for allowing detention without due process. The act has been widely described as a “black law” for its extensive powers and lack of accountability in the detention process.
In addition to the arrests, Indian troops also launched cordon and search operations in various areas of Baramulla, Kupwara, Gandarbal, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Islamabad, and Rajouri. These operations often lead to heightened security and restricted movement in the affected areas.
The detention of these five Kashmiri youth under the PSA and the launch of search operations underscore the ongoing tensions and security measures in Jammu and Kashmir. The region has long been a flashpoint for conflict, with frequent allegations of human rights violations and arbitrary detentions.