hembo
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2009
- Messages
- 3,395
- Reaction score
- -3
- Country
- Location
AFSPA may go in parts of Jammu and Kashmir
TNN | Oct 12, 2011, 06.45AM IST
NEW DELHI: The controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives unlimited powers to security forces to search, seize and arrest without any warrant in disturbed areas, may soon be withdrawn from some parts of Jammu & Kashmir.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday briefed Union home minister P Chidambaram about the improved security situation in the state and spoke to him about the possibility of withdrawing the AFSPA from "certain parts" of J&K. The meeting was a "comprehensive review" of the security situation in the state.
He said: "We also discussed the possibility of removal of the AFSPA and the Disturbed Areas Act from certain parts of the state. I will return and have a discussion with my cabinet colleagues and officers after which we can take a decision." Omar, however, cautioned that this did not mean there "will be an overnight revocation of the AFSPA or the Disturbed Areas Act from the entire state".
He added, "We have to see the areas where the footprints of Army was minimal and then go for revocation of the Disturbed Areas Act and subsequently the AFSPA." Under the law, if a state de-notifies Disturbed Areas Act from certain districts, the AFSPA will automatically be withdrawn from those districts.
Hours before the meeting, the CM had tweeted that he would review the security situation "in the run-up to the offices moving" (moving state government offices from Srinagar to Jammu during winter) when he holds talks with the home minister.
Asked about the Kashmir interlocutors submitting their report, Omar said, "It was indeed a step in the right direction and after this I hope the Centre will soon convene an all-party meeting to discuss it. I look forward to the report. I hope positive things come out and are implemented."
TNN | Oct 12, 2011, 06.45AM IST
NEW DELHI: The controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives unlimited powers to security forces to search, seize and arrest without any warrant in disturbed areas, may soon be withdrawn from some parts of Jammu & Kashmir.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday briefed Union home minister P Chidambaram about the improved security situation in the state and spoke to him about the possibility of withdrawing the AFSPA from "certain parts" of J&K. The meeting was a "comprehensive review" of the security situation in the state.
He said: "We also discussed the possibility of removal of the AFSPA and the Disturbed Areas Act from certain parts of the state. I will return and have a discussion with my cabinet colleagues and officers after which we can take a decision." Omar, however, cautioned that this did not mean there "will be an overnight revocation of the AFSPA or the Disturbed Areas Act from the entire state".
He added, "We have to see the areas where the footprints of Army was minimal and then go for revocation of the Disturbed Areas Act and subsequently the AFSPA." Under the law, if a state de-notifies Disturbed Areas Act from certain districts, the AFSPA will automatically be withdrawn from those districts.
Hours before the meeting, the CM had tweeted that he would review the security situation "in the run-up to the offices moving" (moving state government offices from Srinagar to Jammu during winter) when he holds talks with the home minister.
Asked about the Kashmir interlocutors submitting their report, Omar said, "It was indeed a step in the right direction and after this I hope the Centre will soon convene an all-party meeting to discuss it. I look forward to the report. I hope positive things come out and are implemented."
