Committee deliberates on removal of Disturbed Area Act from JK

Srinagar, Feb 17 (PTI) In the first step for possibleremoval of controversial AFSPA, a high-powered committeecomprising State government officials and a top army commandermet today to review withdrawal of Disturbed Area Act fromSrinagar and Budgam.

Sources said the meeting discussed the ongoing securityscenario and assessed law and order situation in the twodistricts. However, no decision was yet known on the issue.

They said the Committee will submit minutes of itsdeliberation to the concerned authorities based on whichappropriate decision would be taken.

The meeting was attended by Director General of PoliceKuldeep Khoda, Principal Secretary (Home) B R Sharma andCommander of the Army''s key 15 Corps which guards the Line ofControl (LoC) in Kashmir Valley, Lt Gen S A Hasnain amongother officials.

Sources said the meeting assumes significance as Army hasbeen dillydallying to participating in the meeting. They saida high-level intervention has forced the Army to attend themeeting without elaborating details.

A similar committee of DGP, Home Secretary and Army CorpsCommander based at Nagrota will review the withdrawal of theAct in Jammu, they said.

As per norms, once the Disturbed Area Act is removed, theArmed Forces Special Powers Act automatically ceases to be inforce. The Jammu and Kashmir government has been for longseeking removal of AFSPA from the state.