Shops closed in Bhaderwah and other areas too; thin traffic movement on roads
Doda: Prohibitory orders remained in place for the second consecutive day on Wednesday in Doda district which witnessed clashes between protesters and security forces during demonstrations against the detention of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
The restrictions were widened to Bhaderwah valley, with all shops and business establishments shut in the town.
At least eight police personnel, including two officers, were injured in the clashes on Tuesday. Demonstrations erupted after Malik was detained under the PSA and lodged in Kathua jail for allegedly disturbing public order.
“The situation is peaceful. There are no reports of any untoward incidents from anywhere,” a police officer said, adding there are no reports of fresh protests in the district.
Authorities in Doda district on Tuesday imposed prohibitory restrictions in view of apprehensions of breach of peace, law and order concerns, and possible unlawful assemblies.
Additional District Magistrate Doda, Anil Kumar Thakur, issued an order stating that the assembly of four or more persons is prohibited across the district until further orders.
The order further directs that no individual shall deliver provocative speeches, raise slogans, or display gestures that may disrupt peace and communal harmony. Carrying lathis or sharp-edged weapons in public has also been banned.
The Senior Superintendent of Police, Doda, has been instructed to ensure strict enforcement of these restrictions in both letter and spirit.
Officials warned that any violation of the prohibitory order will invite punitive action under relevant provisions of law.
As a result, shops and business establishments remained closed in Doda and Bhaderwah towns besides other towns, and traffic remained thin on the roads. Locals reported internet slowdowns, but district authorities denied any restrictions, attributing issues to technical restoration work.
Additional security personnel have been deployed in sensitive areas of the district, including Bhaderwah, Gandoh, Bhalessa, Chilli Pingal, Kahara, and Thathri, officials said.
Protests also rocked Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, and Kishtwar. The National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, and People’s Conference condemned Malik’s detention, calling it an “assault on democracy.”
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that Malik posed no threat and termed the PSA detention “wrong.”
The law and order is under the control of the Lieutenant Governor as per Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.
Early this morning, heavy deployment of security forces was seen around Doda town. The district administration went ahead with strong measures in the form of the installation of concertina wires to limit movement and keep crowds away from government offices.
Police vans made announcements asking residents to stay indoors after prohibitory orders were clamped throughout Doda town.
While there was no official word on clampdown, the Internet services in the area were not working with protestors alleging that it had been suspended to silence the voice of the people.
The heightened security and communication blackout followed the tragic death of a two-year-old girl, who was being rushed to a hospital for pneumonia treatment but succumbed after her family’s vehicle was caught in a traffic jam amidst protests on Tuesday.
An investigation has been launched after the girl’s father alleged that security personnel deployed at the scene did not allow their vehicle to pass despite repeated pleas. The child was referred from a local Primary Health Centre in Thathri to the Government Medical College (GMC) Doda.
