Families in limbo as Sopore youth held under PSA: Detentions 'disproportionate'

By A Representative

At least six young men from Sopore have been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) following student protests earlier this month over alleged harassment of a girl at a government higher secondary school.

The protests began on April 13 after serious allegations were raised against a teacher. Authorities removed the teacher and registered an FIR, but no arrest has been made. Police later accused several protesters of vandalism and disturbing public order, and shifted them to District Jail Bhadarwah under PSA provisions, which allow detention without trial.

The families of the detained — identified as Umar Akbar Hajam, Salman Ahmed Shala, Altaf Ahmed Sheikh, Mubashir Ahmed Gilkar, Muzammil Mushtaq Changa, and Majid Firdous Dar — say they have not been informed of specific charges, raising concerns about transparency and due process.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has in past rulings cautioned against arbitrary use of the PSA, noting that authorities often rely on vague or repetitive grounds. Preventive detention, the courts have held, should not substitute ordinary criminal law.

Civil liberties groups have criticized the latest detentions. The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), a coalition of rights organizations, termed the use of PSA against protesters “disproportionate” and called for immediate release of those held. CASR also demanded a transparent investigation into the harassment allegations and accountability for what it described as misuse of preventive detention laws.

The incident highlights continuing tensions in Jammu and Kashmir over the use of PSA, a law frequently challenged in courts and criticized by rights advocates for undermining constitutional safeguards.

A fearless spirit lost: Rebecca Thomson dies at 17-hour Catalina Swim Mark

By Harsh Thakor On July 26, 2020, Rebecca “Becky” Thomson suffered cardiac arrest while attempting the Catalina Channel Swim — a marathon open water crossing from Catalina Island to the California mainland. After swimming for 17 hours, Thomson collapsed in the water. Despite the painstaking efforts of emergency responders and the medical staff at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, she succumbed to a devastating hypoxic brain injury and died Friday evening.

An open letter to PM: Before you forgive, ask for forgiveness

By Martin Macwan* Respected Prime Minister, The first step toward true forgiveness is asking for it, and it is out of respect for the Constitution that the title "Honourable" is used for the office of the Prime Minister. Every abuse is "dirty" because almost all abuse is uttered with the conscious intention of publicly humiliating a woman, much like the disrobing of Draupadi in the royal court. This includes remarks like "Jersey Cow," used at public meetings on the Gujarati land of Gandhi and Sardar; comparing a female MP's laughter in India's Parliament to "Surpanakha's laugh"; and using a vulgar address like "Didi O Didi" for a Chief Minister who holds a respected position in a democracy—along with every other such remark. In the 79-year history of independent India, you are better placed than anyone to say which Prime Minister has used such language against women.

Bihar’s land at ₹1 per acre for Adani sparks outrage, NAPM calls it crony capitalism

By A Representative The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) has strongly condemned the Bihar government’s decision to lease 1,050 acres of land in Pirpainti, Bhagalpur district, to Adani Power for a 2,400 MW coal-based thermal power project.

Counterview

Search This Blog