Do not withdraw AFSPA: Group of Kashmiri pandits to AK Antony

A group of displaced Kashmiri pandits in New Delhi met Union defence minister AK Antony and requested him not to withdraw Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from certain parts of the state.

"We have asked the defence minister to not to withdraw AFSPA as there are special circumstances in the Jammu and Kashmir. The Act is a must for them," said Utpal Kaul, founder member of 'Panun Kashmir', a global group of Kashmiri pandits with over 10,000 member.

The members expressed their grief over the situation in the state and asked the minister to find out a solution to end the present crises.

"There is a difficult situation in the state. People are on the road. Even protesters are forcing schoolgoers to fight with security forces. We have asked Antony to intervene and find a long lasting solution to the problem," Kaul said.

Members of Kashmir Samiti, another group of displaced Kashmiri people, were also the part of delegation. The meeting with the defence minister lasted for about half-an-hour.