Sopore, Baramulla (J&K), April 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Police invoked the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) against six individuals in Sopore, Baramulla district, on Friday, April 24, following their alleged involvement in vandalism and public disorder that erupted in the wake of a sexual harassment case at a government school. The six detainees have been lodged at Bhaderwah District Jail, with authorities warning that more arrests are imminent.

Six Booked Under PSA: Who Are the Accused?

The J&K Police officially named all six individuals detained under the Public Safety Act. They are: Umar Akbar Hajam, son of Mohammad Akbar, resident of Seelu village, Baramulla; Salman Ahmed Shala, son of Mohammad Ramzan Shala, resident of Shalpora, Sopore; Altaf Ahmed Sheikh, son of Mohammad Rajab Sheikh, resident of Panzipora Tarzoo, Sopore; Mubashir Ahmed Gilkar, son of Fayaz Ahmed Gilkar, resident of Naseerabad, Sopore; Muzammil Mushtaq Changa, son of Mushtaq Ahmed Changa, resident of Arampora, Sopore; and Majid Firdous Dar, son of Firdous Ahmed Dar, resident of Chinkipora, Sopore.

A police statement confirmed: "The six alleged miscreants are detained at Bhaderwah District Jail and more involved are being identified and strict action will continue."

The Trigger: Sexual Harassment Case at Government Girls' School

The unrest in Sopore town began earlier this month when a senior lecturer at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Sopore, identified as Ghulam Hassan alias Azhar, was accused of sexually harassing a female student. The allegations caused significant distress among students and parents alike, rapidly escalating into large-scale street protests.

Following the accusations, the accused teacher was suspended from service and a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him by the police. Students took to the streets demanding swift and stringent action, but the demonstrations turned disruptive, leading to vandalism and public disorder that prompted the PSA crackdown.

Sopore Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Iftikhar Talib assured citizens that the police had taken immediate cognisance of the harassment complaint and pledged a fair and transparent investigation into the matter.

What Is the Public Safety Act and Why It Matters

The Public Safety Act (PSA) is a preventive detention law that allows authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to detain an individual for up to two years without trial if they are deemed a threat to public order or state security. Its invocation in a case stemming from protests over a school harassment incident is notable and signals the administration's zero-tolerance stance toward civil unrest in the region.

Critics have historically flagged the PSA's misuse potential, while the administration maintains it is a necessary tool to prevent escalation in a sensitive region. The deployment of this law against individuals involved in vandalism — rather than militancy — reflects the broadening scope of its application in post-Article 370 abrogation Jammu and Kashmir.

Sopore's Troubled Past and Present Security Landscape

Sopore, once celebrated as the 'Chota London of Kashmir' for its thriving apple trade, has historically been a flashpoint for separatist activity. The town was the political base of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who won two Assembly elections from Sopore before openly endorsing separatism and armed insurgency.

Geelani, who originally belonged to the Jamaat-e-Islami, later founded his own outfit, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, and eventually broke away from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to lead a hardline breakaway faction. His legacy has left a complex socio-political imprint on Sopore that security agencies continue to navigate.

This current episode — where a harassment protest spiralled into public disorder triggering PSA detentions — underscores the fragile law-and-order equilibrium in the town, even as Kashmir's overall security situation has markedly improved in recent years.

Safety in Educational Institutions Under Scrutiny

The incident has ignited a broader conversation about the safety of female students in government educational institutions across Jammu and Kashmir. Parents and civil society groups are demanding robust institutional mechanisms — including mandatory internal complaints committees and regular audits — to prevent such incidents.

The administration's response, while swift in terms of the teacher's suspension and FIR, will face continued scrutiny over whether the harassment case itself is prosecuted to its logical conclusion. With authorities promising ongoing identification of additional suspects in the vandalism, the situation in Sopore remains closely watched by both local residents and regional security observers.