Repeal AFSPA, reduce troops presence in Kashmir: PDP

Srinagar, Sep 12 (UNI) Reiterating its demand for revocation Armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Peoples Democratic Party today said worst Human Rights (HR) violations are taking place under the garb of the act.

In a statement issued here PDP General Secretary Nizamudin Bhat said there was enough reason to believe that the government was not serious in repealing the black-law despite recommendations of the Working Group on Confidence Building Measures in the State.

Mr Bhat said his party had in unambiguous terms conveyed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the Round Table Conferences and then in the meetings of Working Groups that under the cover of AFSPA, worst human rights violations are taking place in the state as the Act is providing impunity to the security forces against the judicial scrutiny.

''AFSPA is the mother of all evils in the State because this unlawful law was providing cover to the law-enforcement agencies for custodial killings, custodial disappearances, rape, molestation, loot and arson'' Bhat said and added that it was due to the law that renegades were again equipped with arms in South Kashmir's Anantnag town giving them license to shower bullets on innocents and peace loving people of the area.

Mr Bhat said PDP will continue to raise its voice in different forums and pursue vigorously its agenda of building constituency of peace through reconciliation and confidence building in the State.

Repealing AFSPA, reduction of troops and release of prisoners were the prerequisite to bring peace and harmony in the state, he added.

UNI BAS MIR AS1833