Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday demanded withdrawal of troops from residential areas and revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), terming it as a “black law”.
“The presence of troops in residential areas is a grave threat... the sooner the rulers understand this, the better,” the Mirwaiz said addressing a religious function at Reshi Mohalla locality of Habbakadal in downtown city, shortly after authorities lifted restrictions on his movement.
The Mirwaiz was placed under house arrest on Friday to keep him away from leading protests against the death penalty awarded to three convicts including two Kashmiris in connection with Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar blast and alleged unabated human rights violations.
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Strongly condemning the killing of a person and injuries to four others allegedly in Army firing at Keller area of Shopian on Saturday, the Mirwaiz said “such incidents will continue till the black laws are not revoked and the troops withdrawn from the inhabited areas.”
“New Delhi and the state government should take practical steps for early withdrawal of troops from residential areas and revocation of black laws,” he said.
Stressing the need for resolution of Kashmir, the Mirwaiz said nuclear clouds are hovering over the region because of the long-standing dispute.
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He asked India to give up “traditional rigidity” and start a composite dialogue with the concerned parties for peaceful and everlasting solution to Kashmir issue.
Later, the Mirwaiz visited Soura Medical Institute on the outskirts of the city to inquire about the condition of one Manzoor Ahmad Mir, who was allegedly injured in CRPF firing near his house at Noushehra on the outskirts of Srinagar on Friday during a separatist sponsored general strike.
The strike was called by Hurriyat and other separatist groups against the Delhi court verdict on Thursday.