AFSPA has to be withdrawn from some areas: Omar to army

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today did some tough talking with the Army at the Unified Headquarter meeting insisting that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act had to be partially withdrawn from the state but met with stiff resistance.

"No is not an option," Omar stated emphatically at the nearly three-hour long meeting.

Voicing its apprehensions, the army cautioned that even a partial withdrawal will be detrimental to the security apparatus, sources privy to the meeting said.

The army made a presentation highlighting the importance of AFSPA in fighting militancy in the state.

The chief minister said people of the state need to have some semblence of peace returning.

A spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir government came out with a brief release saying the Unified Command Headquarters meeting was chaired by the chief minister during which the overall security scenario in the state was reviewed.

"The meeting which was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand discussed in detail the partial removal of AFSPA from different parts of the state and the various constituents of the UHQ gave their view point on the issue," the spokesperson said.

The chief minister directed the Corps Comamnders of Jammu and Srinagar Corps as well as Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda and Home Secretary BR Sharma to hold meetings on the issue of withdrawal of Disturbed Areas act at the earliest and hand over their report to the state government.