Sayima Ahmad
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday, April 24, slapped the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) against six Kashmiri youngsters for their alleged involvement in vandalism during a recent student protest in the Sopore town of Baramulla district.
The action was taken weeks after an Urdu male lecturer at a local school, identified as Ghulam Hassan Mir, was accused of harassment and inappropriate behaviour by a ninth-grade female student, which triggered a student-led mass protest that reportedly spiralled into vandalism and stone-pelting, forcing authorities to shut down educational institutions across Sopore town from April 15 to 18 to prevent spillover.
Soon after the peaceful protests turned violent, the senior superintendent of Sopore police, Iftikhar Talib, addressed the media, assuring that Mir was placed under suspension in an order by the Directorate of School Education, and a police case was also filed against him. The police official also issued a stern warning against “perpetrators”, saying, “Any attempt to exploit sensitive situations or engage in acts that disturb public order will invite strict and immediate action under the law”.
Speaking on the recent development, a police spokesperson stated that during the investigation, a series of CCTV footage was examined, and dozens of students as well as locals were taken for questioning, leading to the arrest of the six men involved in the vandalism and stone pelting.
The police officials released photographs and names of the six detainees identified as Umar Akbar Hajam, Salman Ahmed Shala, Altaf Ahmed Sheikh, Mubashir Ahmed Gilkar, Muzammil Mushtaq Changa and Majid Firdous Dar, all residents of Sopore town. However, the police officials have not revealed their age or occupation.
The authorities stated that the six accused have been charged with “Instigating unrest, damaging property and attempting to disrupt peace”. The officials further said that the accused have been sent to the District Jail Bhadarwah in the Doda district of Jammu region, adding that the investigation is still underway and more individuals involved in the incidents are being identified and will face similar legal action, including detention under the PSA.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com. Read the full story here.
