Two Kashmiri Women Detained Under Draconian Public Safety Act in Udhampur

In another instance of the misuse of the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA), on December 3rd, Indian authorities detained two Kashmiri women from Udhampur district, accusing them of being “over-ground workers” (OGWs) for pro-freedom groups.

The detainees, identified as Maryama Begum and Arshada Begum have been labeled as threats to “state security” without transparent evidence or trial.

According to a police statement, the women were accused of providing logistical support to pro-freedom groups and facilitating their movements. However, no details substantiating these allegations were made public, raising concerns about arbitrary detentions and the criminalization of dissent.

The PSA, often referred to as a “lawless law” by human rights organizations, allows authorities to detain individuals without charge or trial for up to two years. Its rampant use in Jammu and Kashmir has been widely criticized as a tool to silence dissent, suppress political activity, and perpetuate a climate of fear in the region

Pro-freedom groups and human rights advocates argue that such measures disproportionately target civilians, especially women, and aim to stifle any form of resistance against the ongoing militarization and occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

They assert that the Indian state continues to weaponize laws like the PSA to erode civil liberties, particularly targeting those with limited means to defend themselves legally.