Srinagar, Sept. 8 -- The arrest of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Mehraj Malik from Doda under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) on Monday has drawn widespread criticism from political leaders across Jammu and Kashmir. The move marks the first time a sitting legislator in the region has been detained under the PSA.

The government justified the detention in a formal communication to the Legislative Assembly Speaker, citing concerns over public order. District Magistrate Doda, Harvinder Singh, stated that Malik's actions were considered "prejudicial to the maintenance of public order" and that his continued activities posed a "grave threat" to peace and stability in the district. Authorities said preventive detention was necessary "in the i...