Army law to go in some J&K areas
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act will be revoked in certain areas of Jammu and Kashmir that are deemed peaceful now “within the next few days”, J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah announced on Friday.
Speaking at a police commemoration day function at Zewan, he said the special laws imposed in the state after the outbreak of insurgency in 1989-90 will go from the remaining areas as well with the restoration of peace and tranquillity. “With the gradual improvement in the security situation and return of peace, some laws are being removed from some areas within the next few days... The return of peaceful situation has paved the way in this direction, and these laws will be revoked from all parts of the state with the restoration of peace and tranquillity,” he said.
These two special laws give the security forces sweeping powers while carrying out their campaign against separatists in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Army and other security forces have, however, come under sharp criticism from political and human rights groups, both in India and abroad, for using them to cover up abuses in Jammu and Kashmir and in the Northeast as their personnel are shielded from prosecution while serving in these restive regions.
The AFSPA, passed by Parliament on September 11, 1958, gives special powers to armed forces personnel in what it calls “disturbed areas” in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. It was later extended to Jammu and Kashmir in 1990.
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