Srinagar, January 15 : In occupied Kashmir, the All Parties Hurriyet Conference has taken strong exception to the statement of the Indian Army Chief, General Bikram Singh that the draconian law, Armed Forces Special Powers Act would not be revoked from the occupied territory.

The APHC spokesman in a statement in Srinagar, today, said that the General’s statement betrayed India’s intention to continue its policy of suppressing Kashmiri’s liberation movement by dint of brute force and military might. The statement added that the people of Kashmir were facing miseries due to the presence of Indian troops enjoying immunity under Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

The forum led by veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader Syed Ali Gilani in a statement expressed concern over the collection of information about the residents of Bandipora, Baramulla and Badgam districts by the Indian army saying that there was virtually an army rule in the territory.

Senior APHC leader, Bilal Ghani Lone said in Srinagar that Kashmir was not a territorial issue between Pakistan and India, but a political dispute that needed to be resolved through tripartite talks, involving Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir.

Another senior APHC leader, Shabbir Ahmad Shah talking to the leader of International Democratic Party, RD Khujoria in Jammu said that peace in South Asia could only be ensured through settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

Scores of people including students were injured when Indian police resorted to brute force on a demonstration protesting against the police atrocities on the residents of Barzulla in Srinagar. Indian police personnel had barged into the house of one Ghulam Muhammad Baig subjecting his son to severe torture.

An APHC delegation headed by Zafar Akbar Butt visited Barzulla to express solidarity with the victim family.