26 slapped PSA this month, shifted to Agra Jail

SRINAGAR — 26 Public Safety Act (PSA) detainees, who are alleged of being ‘militant sympathizers’, detained in this month from Kashmir parts were shifted to high-security Agra jail, in Uttar Pradesh, official sources said.

Official sources told news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that 26 detainees have been shifted outside Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory by Order No. PB-V/906 of 2021; dated 21/10/2021.

They said all the 26 detainees were lodged in different jails across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir from the last few days after spurt in civilian killings.

An order of Home Department from Civil Secretariat Srinagar reads, “In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 10-B of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act 1978, the government hereby directs to remove/shift the 26 detainees who have been detained under the provision of Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act 1978 from their present places of lodgement to Central Jail Agra, Uttar Pradesh with immediate effect.”

Official sources further said that among 26 new PSA detainees, six are from Srinagar, five each from Bandipora and Pulwama, four from Budgam, three from Baramulla, two from Shopian and one from Anantnag.

The reasons have not been given for the move of 26 new PSA detainees which comes after civilian killings were on rise in Kashmir valley. However, an official told Kashmir Dot Com that “26 militant associates in the category of over ground workers and those providing logistical support are being taken to outside UT on Air Force IL-76 plane.”

Notably, 22 PSA detainees from Kashmir Valley were shifted to Agra Jail in Uttar Pradesh on October 19. In total, 48 PSA detainees have been shifted to Agra.