Six Detained Under PSA After Sopore Protests Over Harassment Allegation, J&K

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court questioned the use of the Public Safety Act in the region, observing that PSA is being invoked with less care than a challan. Police defended their actions, stating that there is zero tolerance for unlawful activity and warning that more individuals involved in the incidents are under process for PSA, with some outsiders joining the protests leading to unrest.

Following the protests, the Jammu and Kashmir Education Department ordered a probe into the harassment allegations and suspended the teacher. The department said an inquiry is underway and a report will be submitted within 15 days.

Sopore police booked six men under the Public Safety Act for their involvement in vandalism and disturbing public order during the protests. The men were identified as Umar Akbar Hajam (Seelu), Salman Ahmed Shala (Shalpora Sopore), Altaf Ahmed Sheikh (Panzipora Tarzoo), Mubashir Ahmed Gilkar (Naseerabad Sopore), Muzammil Mushtaq Changa (Arampora Sopore), and Majid Firdous Dar (Chinkipora Sopore). They were detained under the PSA with detention warrants from the District Magistrate and lodged in District Jail Bhadarwah. Police stated more people were being identified for similar action.

A student at a girls' higher secondary school in Sopore alleged sexual harassment by a teacher on April 13. Police lodged an FIR in connection with the complaint, but no arrests had been made at that time. Protests erupted in Sopore following the allegation, with around 1,500 students taking part; the protests later saw outsiders join and turn violent, according to police descriptions.