Thousands of people, including Shia scholars, arrested in Kashmir

According to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the detainees were taken to custody under the Public Safety Act (PSA), a controversial law that allows Indian security forces to imprison anyone for up to two years without a charge or trial.

Hawzah News Agency - (Kashmir - India) - Reports out of Kashmir indicate that at least 4,000 people have been detained over the past two weeks, since India stripped the region of its autonomy. Indian security forces have taken a number of Shia scholars to custody, too.

According to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the detainees were taken to custody under the Public Safety Act (PSA), a controversial law that allows Indian security forces to imprison anyone for up to two years without a charge or trial. The official has told the Agence France Press (AFP) that authorities have flown some of the arrestees from Kashmir as prisons have no more capacity. That is in addition to 100 to 500 political leaders and local activists who remain in detention.

Indian authorities have so far refused to give a tally on how many people have been imprisoned and has just said the arrests were made to avoid a breach of the peace in Jammu and Kashmir region.

An Iranian expert of Kashmir issues meanwhile says Indian security forces in an unprecedented move have taken a number of Shia scholars to custody. Alireza Mousawi told Shia news that religious students from Kashmir who study in Iran and now are in summer vacation at home are under the control of security forces. Mousawi puts the number of arrested Kashmiri Shia scholars and seminary students at 30.

About 4,000 people arrested in Kashmir since August 5

At least two dozen people were reportedly admitted to hospitals following violent clashes on Saturday night, almost two weeks since the Indian government’s abrupt decision to revoke Kashmir’s special status.

Indian troops used tear gas, chilli grenades and pellets to disperse protesters. Over the weekend, authorities reimposed heavy restrictions in some areas.

On Saturday and Sunday, small groups of teenage boys and young men blocked roads and forced commercial vehicles to turn around – a sign that restive and angry youth may not allow the administration to go ahead with its plan to open government offices.

Indian officials have ordered government employees in Kashmir to return to duty and some schools will reopen after a tense weekend of protests in the territory.

Some 190 schools are to resume classes on Monday in the capital Srinagar, according to the government of Jammu and Kashmir.

In Srinagar’s old city, a hub of protests, shops remained shut, armed paramilitary personnel maintained a heavy presence and few people walked the streets.