Doda, April 13: MLA from Doda, Mehraj Malik, has criticised the district administration over the recent detention of political activist Mohd Rafi Sheikh under the Public Safety Act (PSA), alleging the move was politically motivated and influenced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In a 19-minute livestream as per news agency Kashmir Bulletin posted on April 12, Malik accused District Magistrate Harvinder Singh of misusing administrative powers by invoking PSA against individuals participating in civic protests. “Another PSA by DC Doda Harvinder Singh,” read the caption of the livestream. The MLA referred to the inclusion of Sheikh’s participation in protests against the local lorry stand tendering process and sand mining issues in the official dossier as “shocking.”
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“A common man can’t even raise his voice against government failures now,” Malik said during the broadcast. He alleged that BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, were influencing district officials to target citizens involved in public demonstrations. Malik claimed the PSA was being used selectively against those who support his political movement.
While Malik acknowledged having heard “positive things” about the DC in the past, he expressed dismay at the administration’s handling of public grievances. “Only inaugurations and ribbon cuttings will not make your image positive,” he said, directly addressing the DC. “If you come from a poor background, you should understand the pain of the poor instead of suppressing them.”
District authorities have not issued a formal response to Malik’s statements at the time of publication. Sheikh, a former Apni Party member and recent campaigner for Malik, remains in custody following his PSA detention on April 10. (KB)
