Friday, October 21, 2011

Armed Forces Special Powers Act to be revoked from some J&K areas soon: Omar












Srinagar:  The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) will be revoked from some areas of Jammu and Kashmir within the next few days, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said.

While assuring the people that revocation of these laws would not have any adverse effect, he said the measure would, however, put an added responsibility on the shoulders of the state police and paramilitary forces.

"The time has come for the revocation of laws (AFSPA and DAA), which were invoked in the state after militancy, from some areas of the state within the next few days," Omar said addressing those gathered for a Police Commemoration Day function at Zewan near Srinagar.
He, however, did not name the areas from where these laws would be removed. "I am not in a position to name those areas at the moment," he said. 

The CM said as the situation improved in other parts of the state and the influence of militancy in various areas ended, these laws would be revoked from those parts of the state too.

He said the fall in the number of policemen and other security personnel killed last year showed how the situation had improved.

"Out of 635 martyrs from across the country, Jammu and Kashmir, which has been a victim of terrorism, had only 18. A small state like Delhi has 15, which speaks about the improvement in the situation," he said.

Mr Abdullah said security forces would have to work harder to ensure the situation across the state continued to improve. 

"During the last three years, I have learnt one thing that if today is good, there is no guarantee that tomorrow will also be good. We will have to work hard to ensure that 2012 will be as good as 2011," he said, referring to the unrest that hit Kashmir from 2008 to 2010 followed by a peaceful 2011.

Omar asked the police and administration to take all steps to ensure a peaceful 2012. 

"We should continue the police-public meetings, talent spotting programmes, vocation trainings and other steps which were taken last year and helped in ensuring peace this year," he said.

The CM also said that while the security forces need to be lauded for ensuring a peaceful summer this year, the people of Kashmir are also to be thanked for not allowing their sentiments to be exploited by vested interests.

"Although there were provocations, I thank the people for not allowing vested interests to exploit their sentiments this year," he said. 

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