Young Activist Detained Under Public Safety Act in IIOJK for Waste Disposal Critique

In his video, Padder alleged that the waste disposal project was part of a larger scam involving substantial funds.

A young social activist, Rehamatullah Padder, 25, has been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir for speaking out against improper waste disposal management by the local administration in Doda. Padder, a resident of Dessa Bhatta in Doda, was taken into custody after a video he made went viral, where he criticized the establishment of a waste dumping site near a residential area.

In his video, Padder alleged that the waste disposal project was part of a larger scam involving substantial funds. His outspoken critique has generated strong support on social media, with numerous citizens calling for his release and accusing authorities of suppressing dissent. The public outcry reflects widespread discontent over the local administration’s handling of waste and environmental management in Doda.

Mehraj Malik, an Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Doda, condemned Padder’s detention, noting that he was merely voicing legitimate concerns about public health and governance. Malik criticized the authorities for using the PSA to silence criticism, calling Padder’s detention a troubling misuse of power.

Padder’s detention follows recent PSA orders against five trade union leaders from the Chenab Valley, who were similarly detained after raising environmental and health concerns regarding power project developments. These detentions highlight growing tensions between the region’s activists and authorities, with critics claiming that the PSA is increasingly employed to silence voices challenging governance and environmental practices in Jammu and Kashmir.