Jammu, May 03: Days after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court set aside his detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Doda (East), Mehraj Malik, on Sunday alleged that the Kashmir Valley is in a “bad state” where voices are being “systematically silenced.”

Addressing a public gathering in Doda following his release, MLA Malik as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) claimed that only “one class, one area, one constituency” gets attention in the Union Territory, while dissent is being crushed across the rest of the region.

“We have always seen what is happening in Kashmir. Voices are being silenced. Is it not necessary that the air flows through these mountains? It will flow,” Malik said without directly naming the Centre or the Lieutenant Governor.

The MLA, who was detained under the stringent PSA last year, narrated the story of a 70-year-old man from Kunj to illustrate the climate of fear prevailing in the Valley.

“He speaks the truth. He raises the mistakes of the government. But there is no one to listen to him. Neither the people of the house nor the people of the area will listen to him,” Malik said.

He further alleged that the youth in Kashmir understand the situation but are afraid to speak openly. “The young man knows. His heart says. His mind says. But he is afraid to speak. You need courage to speak,” he told the gathering.

MLA Malik drew a parallel between the Union Territory and the national capital, where his party is locked in a bitter tussle with the LG’s office, suggesting that suppression of voices is not limited to Kashmir alone.

He urged the people, especially the youth, to bring the change. “Change depends on you,” he said.

Jammu, May 03: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, chaired an operations-cum-security review meeting on Sunday, stressing the need to further strengthen the intelligence network through effective asset cultivation and sustained community engagement.

He passed these directions at the meeting at the Majalta police station in Udhampur district and reviewed operational preparedness during his visits to the headquarters of 84 Brigade Rampur, Majalta and Police Post Khoon, officials said.

He directed officers to intensify Long Range Patrols (LRPs), Short Range Patrols (SRPs) and Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) to maintain heightened vigilance and operational efficiency.

Sharma also ordered firm legal action against offenders involved in cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, besides Over Ground Workers (OGWs), including initiation of property attachment proceedings wherever warranted.

He underscored the importance of regular interaction with village heads and prominent citizens to ensure the timely flow of actionable intelligence.

The DIG further directed stringent action against drug peddlers and bovine smugglers, citing their alleged nexus with other unlawful and anti-national activities.

To strengthen the overall security grid, he ordered activation of Village Defence Guards (VDGs), intensified naka checking, enhanced patrolling and effective night domination measures in vulnerable areas.

Later, during a public interaction at Battal Morh, Sharma urged locals to cooperate with the police in maintaining peace and order.

He assured prompt redressal of public grievances and reiterated the force’s commitment to strengthening community-police partnership for ensuring a safe and secure environment, the officials said.

Jammu, May 03: The administration on Sunday imposed a ban on unauthorised assemblies and protests in parts of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda town for a period of two months under Section 163 of the BNSS, citing apprehensions of public disturbance and threat to peace.

The step has been taken in view of the expectations of large gatherings of people in public events of recently released AAP MLA Mehraj Malik in his native Doda district.

According to an order issued by District Magistrate Krishan Lal, the administration observed that some people were allegedly planning demonstrations and trying to mobilise gatherings, which could lead to untoward incidents and disturb public order.

“In exercise of powers vested in me I hereby order a complete ban over any unauthorised gathering of 5 or more than 5 persons and organising protests or Dharnas in the public places – Clock tower chowk, Dessa road upto Akramabad, sports stadium, within the radius of 100 meters from the sports stadium and from clock tower up to old Bus Stand except for the events for which the permission has been already granted,” Lal said in the order.

The administration said such gatherings could cause obstruction and inconvenience to commuters, passengers and pedestrians, besides posing a threat to public safety.

However, events for which prior permission has already been granted will remain exempted, it said. Violators will be booked under Section 223 of the BNSS, the order said.

Banihal, May 03: A 21-year-old labourer was killed after falling from an under-construction viaduct on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway in the Silard ,Sher Bibi area of Ramban district on Saturday evening.

The deceased has been identified as Sanik Khan, son of Shahid Khan, a resident of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

According to fellow workers present at the site, the incident occurred during ongoing construction work on a nearly five-kilometre-long viaduct project being executed by Sehgal India limited,a private construction firm. The workers alleged that no proper safety equipment had been provided to labourers working at heights, terming the incident the third such fatal accident at the site in past few years.

They further claimed that company officials initially attempted to bury the body without completing legal formalities, but the move was foiled after the police reached the spot.

Police officials said that upon receiving information, a team from police station Banihal rushed to the site and took custody of the body, which was later shifted to Sub-District Hospital Banihal. The post-mortem examination is being conducted on Sunday morning, after which the body will be handed over to the deceased’s co-workers.

Police have initiated inquest  proceedings under 194 BNSS in the matter.