Authorities Book Religious Preacher Mushtaq Veeri Under PSA, Shift Him to Jammu Jail

Srinagar, March 14, KNT: Authorities on Thursday booked religious preacher and Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees vice-president Moulvi Mushtaq Veeri under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and shifted him to a jail in Jammu, officials and sources said.

Veeri had earlier been taken into custody on February 23 during a series of arrests targeting members and leaders associated with the organisation.

Officials said the preventive detention order under the PSA was issued by authorities following his arrest, after which he was transferred to a jail in Jammu.

Reports said Veeri was detained from his residence in Srinagar during the operation in which several members and leaders linked to the organization were also taken into custody.

On the same evening, Difaye Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees leader Moulana Maqbool Afrani was also arrested by police during the crackdown, reports said.

Authorities had earlier announced a ban on the Jama’at organisation for a period of five years.

Following the ban, security agencies launched a crackdown across different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the detention of hundreds of leaders and activists linked to the organization.

Among those arrested during the operation was the group’s chief Dr Hameed Fayaz along with several other senior members.

Officials said preventive detention laws were invoked in certain cases as part of the security measures taken following the ban.

Further details regarding the detention order were not immediately available. [KNT]