J&K Police Bill objectionable, draconian: CPI(M)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir state unit of CPI(M) today termed the proposed Police Bill as "highly objectionable and draconian", saying the administration needs to come out of the "authoritarian mindset".

"The proposed Police Reforms Bill is highly objectionable. There are some clauses in the draft bill which make it draconian and which are unacceptable to the people of the state," state secretary, CPI(M), M Y Tarigami told reporters here. Tarigami said there is a need to democratise the institutions of governance rather than make them more "authoritarian". He said the draft bill proposes powers similar to the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). "As far as the draft bill is concerned, it also proposes powers for the state police quite similar to the controversial AFSPA. So, the bill should have been named as Police Force Special Powers Act (PFSPA)," Tarigami said. The CPI(M) leader said the Supreme Court directives on police reforms have been ignored in the present draft. "Contrary to the Supreme Court directives and ignoring the persistent demand for making police more humane and people friendly while preventing undue political interference in its functioning, the State Police Reforms Bill 2013 not only contains unwanted provisions but gives unbridled freedom to the police force," Tarigami, who represents south Kashmir`s Kulgam in Assembly, said. He alleged that the bill would take away the authority from the civil administration and would let the police act as "a state within the state". PTI