Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday said that religious preachers arrested under the Public Safety Act had been instigating youths despite several warnings. Speaking to reporters, Additional Director General of Police Vijay Kumar said police had given multiple warnings to the cleric and had tried urging them.
"When they did not stop, they were booked under the PSA. This is not the only instance. Usually, we call such individuals and try to explain the situation to them. If they do not heed our advice, action is taken. PSA is the very last step" Kumar noted. The ADGP added that it required, evidence of the arrest could be shared with the media.
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The Police last week arrested five religious preachers in Kashmir and locked them up in Jammu jail. Cops have launched fresh crackdowns on religious preachers in Kashmir and have arrested five persons so far.
Meanwhile, Jammu Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party leader Dr Harbaksh Singh has hit out at the police action, noting similar actions by others, including former BJP leader Nupur Sharma, did not result in crackdown.
"I have not even listened to the speech, I do not know if it can be called hate speech or not. It is very unfortunate. If you look at Nupur Sharma or other people who indulged in hate speech, leading to situation deteriorating in various communities, none of them have been charged under UAPA.
This is like imposing one system in Kashmir, while implementing another in the rest of the country. When we talk about the peace process and establishing peace, the scholars and preachers, too, play a role," Singh said.
