Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq on Sunday demanded withdrawal of troops from residential areas and revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), terming it as a "black law".
"The presence of troops in residential areas is a grave threat... the sooner the rulers understand this, the better," Mirwaiz said addressing a religious function at Reshi Mohalla locality of Habbakadal in downtown city, shortly after authorities lifted restrictions on his movement.
Mirwaiz was placed under house arrest on Friday to keep him away from leading protests against the death penalty awarded to three convicts including two Kashmiris in connection with Delhi's Lajpat Nagar blast and alleged unabated human rights violations.
Strongly condemning the killing of a person and injuries to four others allegedly in Army firing at Keller area of Shopian on Saturday, Mirwaiz said: "Such incidents will continue till the black laws are not revoked and the troops withdrawn from the inhabited areas."
"New Delhi and the state government should take practical steps for early withdrawal of troops from residential areas and revocation of black laws," he said.
Stressing the need for resolution of Kashmir, Mirwaiz said nuclear clouds are hovering over the region because of the long-standing dispute.
He asked India to give up "traditional rigidity" and start a composite dialogue with the concerned parties for peaceful and everlasting solution to Kashmir issue.
