Security vigil heightened in J&K in wake of Hazratbal controversy and tense Doda situation

Security vigil was heightened in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday (September 12, 2025), in the wake of unease and unrest sparked by the recent Hazratbal Emblem controversy and detention of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Mehraj Malik Doda five days ago.

Officials said Friday prayers were allowed in most parts of Doda district amid prohibitory orders. Most shops and offices remained closed in Doda due to recent street unrest sparked by MLA’s detention by the district authorities under stringent Public Safety Act (PSA). It’s for the first time a sitting MLA has been arrested under PSA in J&K.

 Meanwhile, locals said Internet shutdown continued for the fourth day in Doda. Senior police officials during meetings with the local civil society groups sought cooperation “to maintain calm” during Friday prayers. Officials said most of the Friday prayers remained peaceful in the region.

J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat also directed district police heads in the Union Territory “to closely monitor social media platforms to prevent the spread of misinformation that could jeopardise public safety and order”.

The AAP, however, continued to agitate over the detention of Mr. Malik. Muddasir Hassan, spokesman of the AAP in J&K, appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to convene an emergency Assembly session. “Mr. Abdullah should visit Doda and personally assess the ground situation,” Mr. Hassan said.

In the Kashmir valley, hundreds of worshippers thronged the Hazratbal shrine amid the recent controversy over the defiling of the National Emblem on a recently-installed plaque at the shrine by the J&K Waqf Board chairperson Dr. Darakshan Andrabi on September 5. 

Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was denied permission to lead prayers at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar and was “placed under house arrest”. “On the occasion of Majlis-e-Rahmat-ul-lil-Alameen at Jama Masjid, I was placed under house arrest. Our human and political rights already stand denied. There is relentless interference in our religious matters from locking us up to silencing our voice on issues ranging from the Ashoka plaque at Hazratbal to meddling with Muslim calendar holidays, to disallowing religious functions at masjids,” the Mirwaiz said.

He said the pulpit of Jamia Masjid will “continue to raise its voice on matters of religious interference or blatant violation of people’s rights and their disempowerment”.

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party leader Zuhaib Yousf said the move to deny permission to the Mirwaiz on a religious occasion “undermines fundamental religious freedoms”. “Let me remind this authoritarian regime that this country still abides by the constitution and Article 25, which adumbrated Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion,” Mr. Yousf said.

Amid a tight security cover, National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, joined worshippers at the Hazratbal shrine on the occasion.

“May Allah relieve the people of J&K from their troubles. Conflict is widespread globally, and Muslims are enduring immense suffering in Gaza and elsewhere. May Allah bless all Muslims and the people of J&K. I prayed for peace and brotherhood between Muslims and Hindus,” Dr. Abdullah said, after offering the Friday prayers.

 In Jammu, NC provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta, said the ongoing disturbances in the region were “deliberately engineered to delay the promised restoration of statehood to J&K.”

 “Take a look at what happened in Hazratbal. The law is clear: the revered Emblem of our great nation belongs to government offices, not religious places. We have never seen such an emblem used in any religious institution or event,” Mr. Gupta said. He said the detention of Mr. Malik was “as part of a larger conspiracy to fuel disturbances across the region”. 

A press conference was held at PDP Headquarters, Jammu, on the prevailing situation in District Doda. The briefing was addressed by Party Youth President Aditya Gupta, General Secretary Youth (Chenab Valley) Tanveer Hussain, and State Secretary youth(Chenab Valley)Mohd Awais Chowdhary & Addl Spokesperson Rajat Randhawa.

Opposition PDP Youth President Aditya Gupta questioned CM Abdullah. “People of Doda are locked in their homes under curfew and cut off by an Internet blackout and the CM has chosen silence. There are no restrictions stopping him from visiting Doda, yet he refuses to go,” Mr. Gupta said.