India uses draconian law to keep Kashmir's political leaders locked away

Indian security forces stand guard at the site of a grenade explosion in Srinagar February 6, 2020. REUTERS/Danish Ismail

SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - India has extended the detention of four political leaders in Kashmir who had been held by authorities since August to quell dissent after the central government stripped the region of its autonomy, two senior officials said on Friday.

The latest detention order was issued under the draconian Public Safety Act, which allows detention without charges for up to two years, the officials in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir state, told Reuters.