SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) ? Widely hated security laws that give Indian forces sweeping powers to search, arrest or shoot in Kashmir are to be withdrawn in parts as rebel violence declines sharply in the strife-torn Himalayan region, chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Friday.
The revocation of the laws, in place for more than two decades, could be a first step by New Delhi to win hearts and minds in the country's only Muslim-majority region where anti-Indian sentiment still runs deep.
Kashmir, the trigger for two of the three wars between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both countries but ruled by them only in part.
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) are controversial laws that give government troops sweeping powers to arrest suspects without charge and give troops substantial immunity from prosecution.
"With the gradual improvement in the security situation and return of peace, some laws (AFSPA, DAA) are being removed from some areas within next a few days,"Abdullah told a police function in Srinagar.
"The return of a peaceful situation has paved the way in this direction and these laws would be revoked from all parts of the state with the restoration of peace and tranquility."
Nearly 50,000 people have been killed since simmering discontent against Indian rule turned into a full-blown rebellion in 1989.
But officials say the rebel violence has dropped sharply after New Delhi and Islamabad launched a tentative peace process in 2004.
(Reporting by Sheikh Mushtaq; Editing by Matthias Williams)
dream house the patriot taylor martinez taylor martinez o brother where art thou o brother where art thou oregon state football
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.