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No plan to extend Disturbed Areas Act in Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir government has allowed the Disturbed Areas Act to lapse and has no intention to extend it, state Deputy Home Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Lone told Rediff On The NeT.

The act conferred special powers on local police and the Special Task Force. However, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act continues to be in force in the troubled state.

"The police can handle the situation through the normal laws. Routine laws have sufficient provisions to deal with the situation, which has improved a lot," Lone said, adding the situation in Doda district, which hasn't been declared a disturbed area, is also being dealt with.

Even Home Minister L K Advani, Lone added, had said there was no need to declare Doda a disturbed area, as demanded earlier by the Bharatiya Janata Party after the killing of Hindus in the area.

The state government declared the valley a disturbed area after militancy spread in Kashmir in early 1990. The National Conference government extended by act for a year in 1997.

Meanwhile, Lone said the state government has made all arrangements for the peaceful conduct of the Panchayat election in the state in May. He said the poll will be held in phased manner and tight security would be ensured in the valley.

The state has already requested the Centre for more companies of the paramilitary forces to ensure a peaceful poll.

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