AFSPA has to go: Omar

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday said AFSPA is the root cause of every killing in Kashmir. As long as AFSPA is in vogue, such incidents (Markundal) may occur.
Those who oppose the revocation of AFSPA cite militant attacks as example and they will continue to do so, Omar Abdullah told reporters after inaugurating a three-day National Summit organized by National Rural Health Mission here.
He said that some incidents in the Valley from past few days have lent credence to voices both against and for revocation of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state.
Omar said the advocates of continuation of AFSPA in the state cite the example of attack on Army convoy in Srinagar on June 24 in which eight soldiers were killed and a dozen others were injured.
“They say that AFSPA cannot be revoked when Hyderpora like incidents take place. Those who want the Act to go cite the Sumbal incident, saying there was wrong use of powers which led to death of two youths. If there was no AFSPA it would not have happened,” he said.
He reiterated that he would continuously support the revocation of AFSPA and would continue the discussion with the Centre.
While replying to a question, Omar Abdullah said that it was for the first time in the history that those Yatris were sent back who had arrived here without registration. We have sent back some 15000 Yatris back and we are not going to allow Yatris without registration neither here nor in Vishno Devi, he said.

Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now

Be Part of Quality Journalism

Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast.

ACT NOW