Srinagar: Indian police briefly detained three women in the Srinagar district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, interrupting a community initiative to distribute the Quran and hijabs.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the incident took place in the Rajbagh area of Srinagar. The program, launched by a group of young Kashmiri women, aimed to provide Quran copies and hijabs to the public in anticipation of the holy month of Ramadan.

The police intervention led to the detention and questioning of three group members, although they were later released. Details surrounding the reasons for their detention remain unspecified.

Waheed Para, a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), criticized the police’s actions. Using social media platform X, Para described the detentions as unjust, highlighting that the Quran espouses peace, justice, and a crime-free society.

Para appealed to the Srinagar police to avoid legal actions against the women, stressing that their initiative aligns with the charitable spirit of Ramadan.

Social activist Dr. Raja Muzaffar Butt also condemned the detentions, describing them as a violation of international law and the United Nations Charter, which ensures religious freedom. Butt noted that the Quran supports justice and a crime-free society, and that the detention of the women for peaceful religious activities contradicts these values. He warned that such actions by the Indian authorities could heighten tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, potentially undermining regional peace efforts.