Truth vs Hype this week is from Kashmir, a state where every debate is fiercely polarised, Armed Forces Special Powers Act, being no different. When Omar Abdullah suggested that the footprint of the Act be slightly reduced, the Army reacted with vehemence. They said that the security landscape of Kashmir was not ready for even a slight relaxation of the Army's special powers. There is little doubt that the Valley has ended one of its most peaceful summers. But could a partial rollback of AFSPA reverse that? The Army dismissed claims that the Act gives legal sanction to hundreds of human rights abuses. There is little doubt that the armed forces are guilty of violations. But what is the scale, and is the Act alone to blame? This week, we attempt to deconstruct, as dispassionately as possible, Kashmir's AFSPA riddle.
