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| Omar: AFSPA to go during my tenure | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, March 20: Cornered by rising incidents of human rights violations, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today favoured the withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state, saying that the situation was "normalising".
"I believe it is realistic," Omar Abdullah told a television channel when asked if the operation of the act could be discontinued in the state given the situation in Pakistan and the Lok Sabha elections. Noting that the special powers were given to Army due to "unusual situation" that arose in 1989-90, Mr. Abdullah said, "(withdrawal of AFSPA) is something we are definitely looking at."
The Chief Minister said the issue "will certainly" be taken up for further discussions after the Lok Sabha elections. "Neither have we set deadlines nor we can realistically believe that anything of this nature will take place immediately. But certainly after the Lok Sabha elections, it is something that we would like bring to the discussion table," he said.
"I hope some middle ground between what the Army requires to conduct its operations and what the people require can be found so that they are not caught in the sort of crossfire," Abdullah said.
Meanwhile addressing a press conference at Srinagar, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that the army camp at Bomai will be relocated within next 5 to 6 days. He said the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir has been directed to identify the new location for the camp.
Abdullah said that the Army authorities have accepted that there were some lapses which shows excessive force was used in the Bomai incident. Regarding Court of Enquiry instituted by the Army, he said that GoC, 15 Corps has assured him that the enquiry report will not be concealed. He disclosed that the Army has admitted that whatever emerges out of the Police enquiry, action will be taken against one JCO and two soldiers named in the incident, adding that the Army has also conducted its own Court of Enquiry into the incident in a transparent manner.
Abdullah said that his government has approached the Central government regarding shifting of Army and CRPF camps from educational institutions and orchards. “The Bomai camp was adjacent to the girls’ school and the parents had requested me for relocation of the camp”, the Chief Minister said.
Expressing grief over the loss of precious lives in Bomai and Khaigam recently, the Chief Minister said the present Government for the first time took immediate time-bound action in the Bomai incident and ordered magisterial enquiry, which submitted its report within a record time. On the Khaigam incident in which one person was killed, Mr. Abdullah said an internal probe was instituted immediately, and one Assistant Commandant and three jawans of the CRPF were placed under suspension. He said the personnel found guilty by the probe will be punished.
Maintaining that his Government has perfect liaison with the Army and there is no difference of opinion on matters of security, the Chief Minister called for strict adherence to the Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) by the forces during anti-militancy operations, which has been ignored in recent incidents. “The forces have to adhere to Standing Operating Procedures during anti-militancy operations by involving Police and Rapid Action Force to avoid civilian casualties, which has not been done and the results are before us”, he added.
The Chief Minister said that there are certain elements within the forces which believe that they do not fall within the ambit of Standing Operating Procedure, adding, “I want to tell them that they are not exempted from SOP.”
Reiterating his commitment to zero tolerance on human rights abuses, the Chief Minister assured that action will be taken against those who violate the human rights.
On the issue of revocation of Armed Forces’ Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Mr. Abdullah said, “Let us not forget that as Chief Minister, I have on the floor of the House said that AFSPA would be revoked, but others are now raising this issue after leaving the office.”
The Chief Minister said the Union Home Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram, during his visit to the State on March 18, has also made it clear that the issue of AFSPA revocation would be appropriately considered after the Lok Sabha elections. “People will see a sea change when the Lok Sabha elections will be over and the Government will act in a very different way to create conducive atmosphere in the State.”
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