Srinagar:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held a series of meetings in the Capital today, ahead of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meet to discuss a crucial peace package for Kashmir.
Omar met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and pushed for the need for a political initiative.
During a 40-minute long meeting with Home Minister P Chidambaram, Omar pitched for the lifting of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from urban areas. He also urged for amendments to make the act more humane.
The Cabinet will meet today to discuss if AFSPA, which gives the army considerable immunity during operations, can be lifted from four districts in the valley as a measure to end the cycle of violence. 70 civilians have been killed in clashes with security forces since June.
Kashmir meanwhile continues to remain tense. Four people have been killed and 20 others were injured in clashes in the Valley. Two people including a policeman were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces. One more person was killed in Tangmar, where protesters targeted government buildings. Earlier a 25-year-old man was killed in firing in Bandipore.
Protests and clashes have also been reported in Narbal, Badgam and Machoo areas on the outskirts of Srinagar. 20 people are reported injured after alleged firing by security forces in Badgam.
Citing reports of sporadic overnight violence, police say a government building was set on fire in Peerbagh on the outskirts of Srinagar. Early morning on Monday, protesters threw stones in the Pampore area.
Lifting of AFSPA may not be easy with differences among the Home Ministry and the Defence Ministry over the withdrawal of the contentious act.
The Home Ministry feels searches should be carried out only with a warrant, but Defence is of the opinion that arrest and search cannot be split.
The Home Ministry is for minimum use of force, while the Defence Ministry believes minimum force is prone to be misinterpreted.
Home is for handing over of suspects to civil authority within 24 hours. The Defence ministry, on the other hand, says a 24-hour deadline is alright but only after the operation is over.
And lastly, Home is for setting up grievance cells at sub-division and state level. Defence ministry says this is prone to misuse and will lead to harassment with false cases.
The Army is against lifting the AFSPA as it feels the threat of militancy in the valley is still very high.
The top brass is of the opinion that legal protection to the Army cannot be diluted. It says Kashmir's latest problem is not because of AFSPA and lifting of it from some districts is impractical and will not help fight militancy.
"Removing AFSPA from Imphal in 2004 hasn't helped. Kashmir militancy is not at a stage where police, paramilitary can handle," said the Army.
Curfew was re-imposed in Srinagar on Sunday and all major towns of the Valley, but it did little to subdue protests.
(Read: Violence in Kashmir ahead of key Cabinet meet)The agitators stoned Education Minister Peerzada Sayeed's house in Anantnag, burnt a government school in Handwara and threw a petrol bomb at a CRPF bunker in Baramullah. One person was injured as security forces opened fire and used tear gas.