Gatherings of More Than 4 Banned in Doda Amid Tensions Over MLA’s Detention

SRINAGAR: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Tuesday imposed prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, citing apprehensions of a breach of peace and possible law and order disturbances.

In an order issued by Additional District Magistrate, gatherings of more than four people have been prohibited across the district until further notice. The order also bans provocative speeches, slogans, and gestures that could disturb peace, along with the carrying of lathis or sharp-edged weapons.

The District Magistrate directed the Senior Superintendent of Police Doda to ensure strict enforcement of the order. Any violation, the directive warned, will invite punitive action under the relevant provisions of law.

The prohibitory order comes at a time when tensions in Doda have been simmering over the detention of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), a move that has triggered political backlash across the region. The Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly earlier clarified that the Secretariat had no role in Malik’s detention, stressing that the legality of the action rests with the judiciary.

The PSA allows preventive detention without trial for up to two years, but its application against a sitting legislator has been described as a rare and controversial measure. Several political parties have condemned Malik’s arrest, warning that it undermines democratic representation.

The imposition of restrictions under Section 163 BNSS is seen as part of precautionary measures by the district administration to prevent possible protests or gatherings following the detention