A protest over an alleged inappropriate behaviour by a teacher has sparked a major police crackdown in north Kashmir’s Sopore. Six youths were taken into prevention detention under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), which allows detention without trial for up to two years, on Friday (April 24, 2026) and were shifted to a jail that is 275 km away from their hometown.
“In a firm action against elements involved in disturbing public order, Police in Sopore have booked six miscreants under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for their involvement in recent law and order disturbances and acts of vandalism during a student protest in Sopore,” said a police spokesman.
The arrested youths were identified as Umar Akbar Hajam, Salman Ahmed Shala, Altaf Ahmed Sheikh, Mubashir Ahmed Gilkar, Muzammil Mushtaq Changa, and Majid Firdous Dar, who are residents of different parts of Sopore.
On April 13, scores of girl students marched outside the campus of the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Sopore, and lodged a forceful protest against a lecturer whom they accused of “inappropriate behaviour”. In the face of protests, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) suspended the lecturer and ordered an inquiry with a 15-day deadline. The incident forced the authorities to close three colleges in Sopore for three days. The police also registered a first information report (FIR) over the incident.
