KC concerned over alleged human rights violations in Kashmir

Srinagar: Demanding withdrawal of army from residential and urban areas, Kashmir Committee chairman and senior BJP leader Ram Jethmalani today said the Armed Forces Special Powers Act can only be justified by a grave necessity.
Coming down heavily on the state government, Mr Jethmalani said the KC were deeply pained to hear accounts of continuing human rights abuses.
He was talking to reporters before leaving for Delhi at the conclusion of five-day visit to the Kashmir valley. During the visit, KC members met Hurriyat Conference leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and Shabir Ahmad Shah, media organisations and other separatist leaders.
However, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik refused to meet him alleging that the KC was working against the interests of the people of Kashmir.
Mr Jethmalani termed the AFSPA, which provides a cover to security forces, an “evil” law. The army was not needed in residential and urban areas.
Former law minister, Mr Jethmalani said the AFSPA is basically an evil act and can only be justified by a grave necessity.
He said he believed that the conditions can be created in which the act should go.
The presence of army was necessary for security and to prevent infiltration of militants from across the Line of Control, he said, adding they cannot be posted in residential and urban areas.
He said the army should be put at some place near the LoC where they can stop infiltration.