Srinagar, May 15: A day after a top Indian army commander opposed revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) giving unlimited powers to the Indian soldiers in Kashmir, senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani Sunday said the army statement gives ample indication that there was martial law in Kashmir.
“Without the permission of the Indian Army, no decision is taken in Kashmir. AFSPA is a certificate for Indian soldiers in Kashmir and under the garb of the law they can kill Kashmiris without being held accountable for it. There is martial law like situation in Kashmir,” 81-year-old Geelani said today.
He alleged that Indian Army is involved in war crimes in Kashmir. “To hide its war crimes, the Indian army need draconian laws like AFSPA. For this reason, Army commanders are supporting implementation of AFSPA in the region,” he said.
Terming the Kashmir government as ‘puppets’ of Indian government, Geelani alleged, “The Kashmir government has no role in the affairs of the region. It is being used at international level by Indian government to show the world that there is an elected government. Chief Minister of the region Omar Abdullah can’t even transfer a police officer on his own. He has to take permission for that from India’s Home ministry,” he said.
The ailing separatist leader alleged that Kashmir had become a ‘profitable venture’ for Indian Army. “They (Army men) are looting our resources. Army doesn’t want that peaceful solution of Kashmir problem emerges as that will harm their interests. They want chaos and confusion as it suits their interests,” he alleged.
He appealed the international community and world leader to pressurize Indian government to withdraw AFSPA in Kashmir.
A senior Indian army commander Lt Gen K T Parnaik had yesterday said that army opposes any move to repeal AFSPA from Kashmir.
