06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

AFSPA and Disturbed Areas Act remained in effect in Jammu and Kashmir ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19749]

"The AFSPA and the Disturbed Areas Act remained in effect in the Jammu and Kashmir districts of Kathua, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla, and Kupwara, where active and violent secessionist movements existed. The Disturbed Areas Act gives police extraordinary powers of arrest and detention, and the AFSPA provides search and arrest powers without warrants (see section 1.d.). Human rights groups alleged that security forces operated with virtual impunity in areas under the act. In January a committee headed by Supreme Court Justice Jeevan Reddy recommended the act be scrapped because the government had authority under UAPA to combat the insurgency in the northeast. At year's end, the act remained in force.  "

Document(s): Open document

10.2004 - Source: UK Home Office

Disturbed Areas Act ("Country Report - October 2004") [#28325],  [ID 6311]

"[...]
5.31 As reported in the US State Department report 2003, the Disturbed Areas Act remained in effect in several states in which active secessionist movements exist, namely, in Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and parts of Tripura. The Disturbed Areas Act gives police extraordinary powers of arrest and detention.[2c](p3)
[...]

6.233 According to the USSD 2003, ”Under the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, security force personnel enjoyed extraordinary powers, including authority to shoot on sight suspected lawbreakers, and to destroy structures suspected of harboring militants or arms.”[2c](p14) [...]"

Document(s): Open document