The ruling National Conference (NC) today demanded withdrawal of Army from populated areas of Jammu and Kashmir and said the death of two youths in Bandipora was "unacceptable and intolerable".
"The killing of two innocent students in Sumbal area of Bandipora district is unacceptable and intolerable...Time demands that troops be withdrawn from populated areas and the control handed over to Jammu and Kashmir police," additional general secretary of NC Mustafa Kamal said in a statement.
Kamal, who is also the brother of Union minister Farooq Abdullah, said, "The presence of Army in populated areas is in no way beneficial to people and when there is a black law like AFSPA in force."
The NC leader said the state government, over the past four years, has been advocating for withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and withdrawal of troops as it is aware that most of the human rights violations are done under the garb of AFSPA.
"Had there been no AFSPA, the Army would not have fired and killed the students. It is because of the AFSPA, that the troops did not hesitate in firing their guns," he said.
Accusing Opposition People's Democratic Party of playing politics with the blood of youth, Kamal said "NC will not tolerate human rights violations in the state."
"Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (PDP patron and former Home Minister) was the one who ordered deployment of Army in populated areas in 1990 and armed them with special powers under AFSPA. He is making false noises today over the killings," Kamal added.
