As the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has continued its raids across Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have said that it has invoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) against 23 “subversive and criminal elements inimical to the security and public order of the nation” in the Srinagar city. The detentions under the controversial act have come despite the government claiming return of normalcy in the valley.
This is the first time that the police have themselves revealed the number of PSAs cases invoked in the city. In the past, police would keep it a guarded secret.
“In a decisive action against subversive and criminal elements inimical to the security and public order of the nation, Srinagar Police has booked 23 terror associates of proscribed terror outfits involved in subversive activities and miscreants involved in public disturbance under the Public Safety Act (PSA),” the police said in a statement while naming each individual booked under the law.
The police said they have been moved to jails outside the Kashmir Valley. “Many criminal cases have been registered against these individuals. Despite this, they did not mend their ways after getting bailed out from courts, they were brazenly involved in the disturbance of public order, criminal and subversive activities against the nation,” he said.
Police said the detentions under the PSA – a law over which organisations such as the Amnesty International have previously expressed concerns — are part of systemic “targeting and dismantling of anti-national and anti-social infrastructure in Srinagar city through its on such elements” and cautioned against unlawful and disruptive activities.
The large scale detentions under the Public safety Act is surprising as the government claims that normalcy has returned to the valley.
Meanwhile, the State Investigation Agency Saturday raided multiple places in central and north Kashmir in a case related to sleeper modules of the militants operating in the valley. The raids have come less than a week after similar raids were conducted in South Kashmir.
Officials said that on Saturday 11 locations were raided by the sleuths of the State Investigation Agency in a case registered under unlawful activities prevention act (UAPA).
“During the raids, substantial incriminating materials have been seized and the suspects have been rounded up for further questioning,” SIA said in a statement. “Preliminary investigation has clearly brought out that these terror associates are actively engaged in terrorist conspiracy, propagating and furthering anti-India narratives aimed not only at challenging the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India but also at inciting disaffection, public disorder, and communal hatred.”
The SIA said that most of the individuals under scrutiny for their suspected involvement in online radicalisation “fall within the vulnerable and impressionable age group of 18 to 22 years”.
“In this context, the role of teachers, parents, and peers becomes crucial. While constant monitoring may not always be possible, they should remain alert to the online activities of young individuals and offer timely guidance if any concerning behaviour is noticed,” SIA said. “If necessary, the matter should be reported to local police authorities to ensure that such youth receive appropriate intervention and counselling.”
