PDP MP from Jammu and Kashmir concerned on powers to NIA

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 3

PDP Rajya Sabha MP from Jammu and Kashmir Fayaz Ahmad Mir on Friday expressed apprehension regarding the status of members of the houses in which weapon-laced terrorists forcibly enter to take refuge during operations against them after the amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Taking part in the debate on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha to amend UAPA, which empowers the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to designate an individual as terrorist and seize his/her property, he urged it to be sent to Select Committee for legislative scrutiny.

He said the provisions in the Bill are fraught with peril as they gave sweeping powers to the NIA, which would be misused.

“What can a house owner do if the terrorists armed to the teeth forcibly enter his home, take food and shelter as refuge during operations against them by security forces?” Mir said, urging Union Home Minister Amit Shah not to press forward with the Bill.

“I appeal to the Home Minister about the sufferings faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that people had been facing the brunt of violence for the past 25 years.

Referring to recent reports of deployment of a large number of extra security personnel by the Centre, he said people of the state are terrorised. Earlier, there used to be a stated reason by the government for sending extra forces. It used to be either for election or during the season of pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine.

He said the reason for heavy deployment this time was not known, which had created uncertainty among the people.

“You have been dispatching security forces to the state for the past 25 years, but what has come of it,” he said.