AAP Protests MLA Mehraj Malik’s Detention in J&K

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged widespread protests across Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, decrying the detention of their MLA, Mehraj Malik, under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA). Malik, the MLA from Doda and president of AAP’s J-K unit, was arrested on Monday for allegedly disturbing public order and was subsequently transferred to Kathua district jail, sparking outrage among his supporters and political allies.

Hundreds of AAP activists and supporters took to the streets, with a prominent march from Bhatyas village to Doda town, demanding Malik’s immediate release. Another protest near Doda’s clock tower was swiftly dispersed by police, who bolstered security across the district. Police and paramilitary forces were heavily deployed in Gandoh, Bhalessa, Chilli Pingal, Kahara, Thathri, and Doda headquarters to prevent escalation, officials reported.

In Jammu, AAP activists gathered outside the press club, condemning the Lieutenant Governor-led administration and accusing the BJP of orchestrating Malik’s detention. “This is an attack on the voice of thousands of voters Malik represents,” a protester declared. Similar demonstrations were reported in Rajouri, Poonch, and Kishtwar, reflecting widespread discontent.

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Locals in Malik’s Kahara village alleged that internet services were deliberately slowed amid a spontaneous shutdown, though district authorities denied imposing restrictions, attributing disruptions to technical restoration work by service providers. “The inconvenience is temporary and purely technical,” the Doda district information office stated, urging public cooperation.

The detention has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders across party lines. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the use of the PSA, stating, “Malik is not a threat to public safety, and using this discredited law is wrong.” The National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and People’s Conference echoed this sentiment, labeling the move an “assault on democracy.” PDP MLA Waheed Para called it a “shameful surrender” by the assembly secretariat, warning that such actions threaten the institution of elected representatives.

Malik’s arrest marks the first time a sitting MLA has been detained under the PSA, intensifying debates over the use of preventive detention laws. The protests underscore rising tensions in the region, with AAP vowing to continue its fight against what it calls an attempt to silence dissent. As security remains heightened in Doda, the political fallout from Malik’s detention is likely to reverberate, raising questions about democratic freedoms in Jammu and Kashmir.

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