Over 7,000 arrested in ongoing Valley unrest

SRINAGAR: More than 7,000 people were arrested by police during the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley that started here on July 9, but 5,500 of them were let off on promise of good behavior, a top police source has said.

In cases of habitual stone-pelters, around 350 have been booked under the PSA (Public Safety Act). Another 100-200 wanted persons are still evading arrest.

A person arrested under the PSA can be kept in detention for a maximum of two years without trial. Arrests under the PSA can only be challenged in the state high court. Arrests under the PSA are based on dossiers prepared by the state police and accepted by the state home department on the recommendations of the district magistrates concerned.

“Those arrested under the PSA have been lodged in jails outside the Valley and also, in many cases, in different jails within the Valley,” the source said. The authorities do not always order PSA detentions for two years. “In most cases, the initial detention period is six months which is then reviewed by district-level review committees,” a police officer said.

Commenting on the evidence based on which the general and special category arrests have been made, sources said human intelligence, video evidence, CCTV footage and other scientific methods were used to establish cases against the arrested persons. In addition to nocturnal raids, security forces have been arresting people during mob-control exercises as well, but are released after their innocence has been established.