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CRPF personnel manning deserted Srinagar streets on a curfewed day. (KL file Image: Bilal Bahadur)
CRPF personnel manning deserted Srinagar streets on a curfewed day. (KL file Image: Bilal Bahadur)

Refusing to divulge information about the total strengthen of Indian troopers stationed in Kashmir Valley, Union Ministry for Home Affairs, Government of India has said that the time for withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir is not appropriate.

This response from Ministry for Home Affairs, Government of India has come against an application filed by Human Right Activist MM Shuja under Right to Information Act seeking information about the total number of Indian troopers stationed in Valley and the government’s policy vis-à-vis withdrawal of AFSPA.

The reply, according to news agency CNS, furnished by MHA states: “the issue of revocation of AFSPA from the state of J&K has been raised by various sections of the society/entities/individuals in the Kashmir Valley. Omar Abdullah former Chief Minister also raised this issue in meeting with the then Home Minister P Chidambaram on 14 November 2011 and during Conference of Chief Ministers on Internal Security on 5 June 2013. However, there is no formal proposal from State Government of Jammu and Kashmir for revocation of AFSPA. The matter has been reviewed by Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time and it has been decided that time is not appropriate for withdrawal of AFSPA from J&K.”

The MHA has declined to divulge in the information about the total strength of Indian troopers stationed across Valley stating that section 24 of RTI Act exempts troopers from providing information due to security reasons.

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