Omar's CrPC move faces stiff opposition

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah's move to amend local laws to provide legal protection to the security forces in the state has met with severe opposition. On Saturday, independent MLA Engineer Rasheed, separatist outfit JKLF and the Kashmir Bar Association said the move was "disastrous and detrimental to people of the state".

In a bid to push for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and allay the fears of the armed forces, Abdullah on Thursday had offered to amend the Ranbir Penal Code, as the India Penal Code is known in the state.

Rasheed said Abdullah was trying to camouflage his failures to remove AFSPA by suggesting an amendment to the Ranbir Penal Code.

"The move will be more disastrous for the human rights scenario because it will be a perpetual immunity to the security forces, while the AFSPA is a temporary one," Rasheed said.

In another press statement, JKLF chief Yasin Malik termed the move as "a conspiracy against the people of Kashmir". "To prove his loyalty to New Delhi, Abdullah is making AFSPA a permanent feature by making amendments to the Criminal Procedure code."

The bar association said, "Once the amendment in CrPc is carried out it would create a permanent role for army and cover-up its operations."