Jammu, Sept. 10 -- Police had to resort to use of tear-gas and mild lathicharge after supporters of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik pelted stones on the cops in Doda district on Tuesday, said officials. Protests were held by AAP activists and supporters in Doda and Jammu city against the detention of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA). "The administration has imposed Section 163 of the BNSS and made announcements advising people to disperse. However, AAP activists and supporters of Mehraj Malik took out a Doda Chalo rally from Gandoh," said a police officer. He informed that at Dunadi, the protestors went berserk and pelted stones at the policemen, who tried to foil their March. As a result, police had use tear-gass shells and they also resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse the protestors, he added. The protest march reached Thathri Morh by 6 pm. Raising slogans in favour of Malik's release, hundreds of his supporters took out a march from village Bhatyas and headed for Doda town. Another group of AAP activists also held a protest near the clock tower in Doda town but were dispersed by police. A top official said security forces have been deployed in strength in Gandoh, Bhalessa, Chilli Pingal, Kahara and Thathri tehsils besides Doda district headquarters as a precautionary measure. A similar protest was witnessed at the Malikpora-Bhalessa junction. The administration on Tuesday slowed down the speed of mobile internet to check rumour-mongers and police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order. "Some elements are trying to exploit the situation but we have deployed adequate police force to deal with the situation," said a senior Doda district administration official. Congress leader Sheikh Zafrullah was detained in Kishtwar while he was trying to reach Doda for holding a protest against Malik's detention. Parallel rallies in support of deputy commissioner Harvinder Singh were held in Doda town by civil society members. "According to Malik, right from Prime Minister to home minister, LG and Doda DC are corrupt and he is the only honest person around. This man (Mehraj Malik) is a threat to communal harmony in Doda district. On social sites, he glorified slain terrorist Burhan Wani and called him a brand. He also talked about raising a Lashkar here. This man is a threat to society," said one of the protesters. Having attained the dubious distinction of being the first legislator from Jammu and Kashmir to be detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA), Doda East MLA Mehraj Malik, 37, was being treated like any other inmate in accordance with the prison manual at Kathua district jail, officials said. "It's too early to judge him, but he was not aggressive when brought to the prison on Monday night after the medical examination at Government Medical College, Kathua," a senior home department official said, requesting anonymity. "The MLA has been kept in a separate barrack under CCTV surveillance. As we speak, he hasn't gone on any hunger strike. In fact, he ate last night besides having breakfast this morning. He is being provided the same food that other jail inmates are getting. There are no special arrangements," the official said. However, a fan and a water cooler that are available to other inmates as well have been provided to the MLA, he said. "We are keeping a close watch," said the official. A political controversy erupted in J&K on Tuesday over the arrest of Malik under PSA for allegedly disturbing public order in Doda district on Monday. The opposition PDP termed his arrest "a shameful surrender", accusing the assembly secretariat of endorsing the PSA against the first sitting legislator, while the secretariat issued an official communique in Jammu denying any role in the matter. Malik is also the president of the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He was shifted to Kathua district jail on Monday evening. "Today, I met the father and other family members of Mr Mehraj Malik, MLA Doda. I reiterated that the use of PSA against the MLA is completely unjustified and a blatant misuse of the powers of preventive detention," CM Omar wrote on Facebook...