Panun Kashmir opposes revocation of AFSPA

Opposing the voices demanding withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the Kashmir Valley, an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits has said the army should instead be given more power "to quell the turmoil" triggered by separatists.

"We reject the demands of autonomy and revocation of AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir. The army should instead be given more powers to quell the turmoil triggered by separatists and their supporters," Panun Kashmir chairman Dr Ajay Chrangoo told reporters in Jammu.

He also stressed on the organisation's demand for carving out a homeland with Union Territory status for seven lakh displaced Kashmiri Pandits. "This is our ten-year-old demand," he said.

He alleged that the state government machinery had tried to keep the organisation members away from meeting the all-party delegation during its recent visit to the region.