Young Activist Detained Under PSA for Questioning Administration’s Failures in Doda

On November 11, a young Kashmiri activist, Rehmatullah Paddar, was detained under the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA) in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir.

Paddar was arrested after posting a viral video criticizing the district administration’s failure to properly manage waste disposal, particularly its decision to establish a waste dumping site near a residential area.

Paddar’s video, which garnered significant attention on social media, alleged that the waste dumping project was part of a larger scam, involving millions of rupees, and called for a more suitable location for the site. Netizens quickly rallied behind him, calling for his immediate release and condemning what they described as the authorities’ attempt to silence dissent.

However, district authorities, including Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh, have justified Paddar’s detention under the PSA, citing his alleged past involvement in activities deemed “anti-national” by the administration. Singh claimed that the police had submitted a dossier outlining Paddar’s previous arrests and links to pro-freedom groups.

Paddar’s supporters and civil rights groups argue that the use of the PSA in this case is a blatant attempt to suppress peaceful activism and legitimate concerns about local governance.