Kashmiri Man Detained Under draconian PSA

On December 26, Police in Udhampur detained Abdul Qayoom, also known as Bittu, under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA), citing allegations of supporting pro-freedom activities. 

Qayoom, a resident of Kadwah in Basantgarh, is accused of providing logistical support for pro-freedom groups. The family members contest the claims, but under PSA, authorities can detain an individual without being legally obliged to provide any grounds for arrest. 

Officials justified his detention under PSA as a measure to prevent what they called “further threats to security,” a vague and ambiguous categorization that is readily exploited by India. 

The PSA allows detention without trial, as a tool to silence dissent and target individuals under vague and unsubstantiated charges.

This detention adds to the long list of cases where the PSA has been invoked to target individuals without due process, eroding trust in the justice system. The “justice system” acts as an extension of India’s military occupation.