The Jammu and Kashmir Police apprehended four individuals for displaying flags representing the Shiite organisation Hezbollah during a Muharram procession in Srinagar on July 15th. Several others were also held for interrogation. According to police sources, along with flags of Palestine, slogans were voiced during the procession. As the procession, attended by approximately 10,000 to 15,000 people, moved along M.A. Road around 2 pm, Hezbollah flags were seen, resulting in the filing of a First Information Report (FIR).

According to sources, the FIR was lodged at the Kothibagh Police station in Srinagar under Sections 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 152 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India) of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Hezbollah, which emerged in response to Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982, has been designated as a terrorist organisation by various Western nations including the US, the UK, Germany, France, and the European Union.

Srinagar MP Ruhullah Mehdi criticised the detention and the application of the UAPA, suggesting that there are better ways to address the situation rather than immediately resorting to legal action. He questioned the application of stringent laws like the UAPA, emphasising that even if the youths were displaying Hezbollah flags, there are opportunities for educating and sensitising them about the implications. Mehdi highlighted the importance of community policing and expressed concern over what he sees as a tendency to label every Kashmiri as a terrorist.

Syed Suhail Bukhari, the chief spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), criticised the application of the UAPA against young individuals for expressing pro-Palestine sentiments, describing it as unfortunate and indicative of disorder. He emphasised that the United Nations supports Palestine, a stance India is part of, and urged for the immediate reversal of what he termed as "brazen and bizarre" actions.

The UAPA, designed as anti-terrorism legislation, lacks provisions for anticipatory bail in terrorism cases and makes securing bail post-arrest exceptionally challenging. Despite attempts to reach Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, and Srinagar Senior Superintendent of Police Ashish Mishra via phone calls and WhatsApp messages, there has been no response up to the time of this report's publication.

Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, also criticised the UAPA case filed against the youths. "I strongly condemn the imposition of the stringent UAPA against Kashmiri youth for their protests without proper investigation or due process," stated Iltija Mufti. "The BJP-led government previously argued that certain sections of the Indian Constitution did not apply to Jammu and Kashmir before the abrogation of Article 370. Now, there should be a critical inquiry into which Constitution is being applied in Kashmir, especially when the Director General of Police accuses mainstream political parties of harbouring terrorism."

"I have witnessed youth expressing their protest against the injustices inflicted on Palestinians by Israel. Demonstrating solidarity with Palestine should not be deemed an offense warranting the UAPA. The administration's decision to invoke UAPA disregards its severe consequences on the future of the youth charged under this law," she added.

Image Source:  OpIndia