Army apologises after Omar protests ‘interference’

The press release claimed that the encounter had taken place only because Army bunkers had been removed by the Omar Abdullah government. The release said it was Omar’s “political compulsion” to listen to the popular demand that the bunkers be removed. This might have “pleased a few hardline separatists and their ISI handlers”,the release said.

While the Army issued a separate press note later saying that the earlier one should be cancelled and not published,some newspapers did carry it.

“Lt General Jaswal spoke to the Chief Minister and apologised for the error and from his side the matter should be treated as closed,” an official spokesperson said.

Omar had written to the Prime Minister protesting army’s “interference” in the state government’s policy issues.

The state government had conveyed to the Centre that the Army command was working at several levels and trying to create a fear psychosis in certain quarters that if Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was revoked in a few areas,the situation in the state would deteriorate.

Omar has been demanding the withdrawal or amendment of the AFSPA in order to make it more humane.