Tough emergency laws imposed in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) in 1990 that allow security forces to act with near-impunity are to be partially withdrawn, the region’s chief minister announced on Friday.
It marks a significant step in the process of normalising the Indian part of Kashmir.
The draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was introduced in 1990 to give the army and paramilitary forces – who number half a million today – sweeping powers to detain people, use deadly force and destroy property.
“Time has come for the revocation of laws which were implemented in the state after the onset of militancy,” IHK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told a police function in Srinagar. “These laws will be revoked from some areas of the state within next few days,” he said, without specifying where.
Abdullah said peaceful conditions had paved the way for partial withdrawal of the much-hated law.
“These laws would be revoked from all parts of the state with the restoration of peace and tranquility,” he said. Police sources told AFP that six districts would be affected by the change, including Srinagar and Jammu, but the law would remain in place along the de facto border with Pakistan.
