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J&K's Doda Crisis Deepens as AAP MLA Mehraj Malik Arrested Under PSA; Internet Suspended, Protests Erupt

Minakshi Srivastava By
Calender Sep 10, 2025
India News 3 min read

J&K's Doda Crisis Deepens as AAP MLA Mehraj Malik Arrested Under PSA; Internet Suspended, Protests Erupt

Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district is witnessing heightened tensions after the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), one of the region’s most stringent laws that permits detention without trial for up to two years. Authorities have imposed restrictions on public movement, suspended internet services, and deployed heavy security forces to prevent escalation of protests demanding Malik’s release.

The unfolding events have sparked political outrage across parties, triggered mass protests in several areas, and raised serious questions about democratic rights, governance, and law enforcement in the Union Territory.

Doda protests

Administration Clamps Down: Section 163 BNSS Invoked

On Wednesday, officials invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS)—a provision earlier known as Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)—in Doda district. The order prohibits the assembly of four or more people, restricts public movement without prior permission, and bans provocative speeches, slogans, or gestures that could disturb communal harmony.

Additional District Magistrate Anil Kumar Thakur issued the order, cautioning residents that carrying lathis, sharp-edged weapons, or any object that may incite violence has been prohibited. Announcements were made through loudspeakers mounted on police vehicles, instructing residents to close shops, stay indoors, and avoid streets.

The police message was clear: “Whosoever is found moving on the road or in streets, strict legal action will be taken against him.”

Doda protests

The Trigger: Arrest of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik

The immediate cause of unrest stems from the arrest of Mehraj Malik, the sitting AAP MLA from Doda. On Monday, Malik was taken into custody and booked under the PSA on grounds of allegedly engaging in activities “prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.” He was first lodged at Bhaderwah jail and later shifted to Kathua District Jail after undergoing a mandatory medical check-up at Government Medical College, Kathua.

At 37 years old, Malik has become the first sitting legislator in Jammu and Kashmir to be detained under PSA, a law frequently criticized for being “draconian.” His arrest comes less than a year after he defeated BJP’s Gajay Singh Rana by 4,538 votes in the Doda Assembly constituency.

According to the PSA order issued by District Magistrate Harvinder Singh, Malik’s detention was deemed necessary to safeguard peace, law, and order. The District Commissioner also formally informed the Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly about the preventive detention, as required by procedural norms.

Why Was Malik Arrested?

Malik, who also serves as the president of AAP’s J&K unit, has been a controversial figure. Reports suggest he had been pressing local authorities to shift a primary health center to a centrally located place. Allegedly, he insisted the center be moved to a building constructed by one of his supporters on state-owned land, demanding the government pay rent for its use.

When his demand was rejected, Malik reportedly used abusive language against the Deputy Commissioner. This led to the filing of an FIR against him and five of his supporters.

Beyond this, officials claim that Malik has 18 FIRs registered against him for provocative statements and abusive behavior. Critics of Malik point to his social media activity, alleging that he once glorified slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani and made comments suggesting raising a Lashkar outfit in the area. Civil society members in Doda have labeled him a “threat to communal harmony.”

However, AAP leaders have dismissed these charges, calling them politically motivated and an attempt to silence dissent.

AAP’s Response: Legal Battle Ahead

AAP leaders have strongly condemned Malik’s arrest. Party spokesperson Mudasir Hassan revealed that the PSA dossier handed to Malik’s lawyer runs over 250 pages, which the legal team is currently studying. He confirmed that senior AAP leaders, including MP Sanjay Singh and J&K in-charge Imran Hussain, have arrived in Jammu to strategize legal and political responses.

Rejecting the allegations, Hassan said the party will challenge Malik’s detention in the J&K High Court.

The spokesperson further alleged that during one of the protest gatherings at Shiva bridge between Doda and Prem Nagar, police fired tear gas shells and baton-charged demonstrators. Around 1,000–1,500 people had assembled late into the night demanding Malik’s release. Hassan even claimed that a landslide followed the chaos, and several people were reported missing, sparking fears of injuries.

He squarely blamed the Doda administration for disturbing peace by resorting to PSA. “The DC had other legal alternatives. He could have issued a notice, written to our party disciplinary committee, or even filed an FIR. But invoking PSA against an elected MLA is unjustified,” he said.

Protests Across Doda and Beyond

The arrest has triggered a wave of protests across Doda, Jammu city, and other parts of the Union Territory. Supporters of Malik attempted marches under the banner “Doda Chalo” from Gandoh, which escalated into stone-pelting at Dunadi, forcing police to use tear gas and lathicharge.

By evening, protestors had reached Thathri Morh, raising slogans demanding Malik’s release. Simultaneous protests took place in Doda town, Malikpora-Bhalessa junction, and near the clock tower in Doda.

Authorities have deployed heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces in sensitive areas, including Gandoh, Bhalessa, Chilli Pingal, Kahara, and Thathri, to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

In Kishtwar, Congress leader Sheikh Zafrullah was detained while trying to join protests. In Jammu city, demonstrators called Malik’s detention an “autocratic move to stifle dissent in the world’s largest democracy.”

Interestingly, parallel rallies were also held in Doda town in support of DC Harvinder Singh, with some locals branding Malik a communal threat.

Political Reactions: United Condemnation from Opposition

Malik’s detention has united opposition voices across the political spectrum:

  • Omar Abdullah (NC & J&K Chief Minister): Called the detention unjustified, questioning how democracy can survive if elected representatives are targeted.

  • Arvind Kejriwal (AAP Chief): Defended Malik, calling him the “lion of AAP” and asking whether demanding a hospital is such a grave crime that it warrants jail under PSA.

  • Ghulam Ahmed Mir (Congress): Termed the act “undemocratic,” warning it erodes faith in institutions.

  • Rafiq Ahmed Naik (PDP MLA): Labeled the PSA invocation as a “brazen attack” on democracy.

  • Sajad Lone (Peoples Conference): Questioned the purpose of elections if elected leaders cannot express themselves.

  • Ghulam Hassan Mir (J&K Apni Party): Stated that Malik should have been booked under appropriate laws if guilty, rather than PSA.

Life Inside Kathua Jail: Malik Under Watch

Officials at Kathua jail confirmed that Malik has been placed under CCTV surveillance in a separate barrack. He is being treated like any other inmate, provided the same food and facilities such as a fan and water cooler.

A senior home department official noted that Malik has so far shown no signs of aggression or protest. “He ate his meals and is under close watch. No special arrangements have been made for him,” the official said.

Tragic Fallout: Infant Dies Amid Traffic Blockade

The tense situation has already led to tragedy. On Tuesday, a two-month-old infant, Umaisa, died after her family’s vehicle was reportedly denied passage to GMC Doda by a police sub-inspector at Pul Doda check post.

Her grandfather alleged that despite repeated pleas, the family was stopped from entering the town due to protest-related roadblocks. By the time senior officers intervened, the baby had passed away.

The grieving family staged a sit-in, demanding strict action against the officer. Police, however, claimed the vehicle was stuck in a traffic jam far behind, and despite efforts, the child could not be saved.

JKBOSE Exams Postponed

Amid the turmoil, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) postponed Class 10 and 11 bi-annual exams scheduled for September 10 across J&K and Ladakh. The decision was taken due to restrictions on movement and transport in Doda.

An official JKBOSE tweet confirmed that the exams would be rescheduled later. This comes after earlier postponements caused by flood-like conditions in the region.

The Larger Picture

The arrest of Mehraj Malik under PSA has not only escalated tensions in Doda but also raised broader questions about governance, dissent, and democratic freedoms in Jammu and Kashmir. For many, Malik’s detention epitomizes the uneasy balance between maintaining law and order and upholding democratic rights.

While authorities argue his activities threatened communal harmony, his supporters insist he is being punished for challenging administrative decisions and voicing people’s demands. The coming days are likely to see both legal battles and political mobilization, as AAP prepares to challenge the PSA order in court while protests continue on the ground.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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