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Mukhtar Ahmad In Srinagar
Even as there is much criticism over the promulgation of the Prevention Of Terrorism Ordinance, the security forces in Kashmir have already started putting it in use.
According to a top police officer, the security forces and state police have already arrested ten persons by invoking the provisions of POTO. The arrested include Ghulam Mohammad Dar, whose house was sealed after Dar's wife and daughter were forcibly evicted from their home at Safakadal in the city downtown.
Till last year, the most effective statute used by the security forces in Kashmir was the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, which lapsed last year.
The sources said that few days back the special operations group of the state police had recovered one pistol, 37 rounds and two wireless sets from the house of Ghulam Mohammad Dar. The police also said that Dar was a harbourer of Al-Badr chief Dr Nayeem, who was killed by the SOG at Chitrahama, near Srinagar, on November 21.
Dar was also detained by the SOG and has now been booked under various sections of POTO.
"We have sealed the house under sections 8 and 9," said the police officer.
He said under section 8 and 9, the police can seal any place in case illegal arms and ammunition are recovered. He added, "We can also seal any house that is being used as a hideout by the militants."
The state Law Minister, Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, said, "POTO was already in force in the entire country, including the state of Jammu and Kashmir."
"We wont misuse the ordinance. We will ensure that innocents are not harassed," said the Minister of State for Home Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy.
ALSO SEE The Complete Coverage: The Anti-terror Ordinance
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