Speakers sought repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
citing the dangers, due to the act, evident in Manipur and North Eastern
states, which could spread to other parts of the country.
Speaking at a state level seminar on AFSPA organised by INSAF-Puducherry, R N Ravi, former Director of Intelligence Bureau of North East, said that the Santosh Hegde committee, appointed by the SC to investigate encounter killings in Manipur, has methodically exposed the legislation’s failure to tackle insurgency in the State. Despite the commission’s report to Supreme Court, indicting the army as guilty of fake encounters in the first six cases, the AFSPA continues to exist. Lack of political will has led to the survival of AFSPA.
Out of 552 Lok Sabha members, only 24 are from NE States and these are not enough to initiate withdrawal of the act. Despite the reports on the incidents of harassments including fake encounter and sexual harassment of women, every year the AFSPA is renewed, with State government and Army pressing for it. While the army personnel get incentives like military decorations, the State government finds it convenient to be complacent and slide the responsibility on the shoulders of the army. Unless the rest of India starts voicing the unacceptability of the act, it would not be withdrawn. The insurgency could be handled by deploying other paramilitary forces, said Ravi.
Speaking at a state level seminar on AFSPA organised by INSAF-Puducherry, R N Ravi, former Director of Intelligence Bureau of North East, said that the Santosh Hegde committee, appointed by the SC to investigate encounter killings in Manipur, has methodically exposed the legislation’s failure to tackle insurgency in the State. Despite the commission’s report to Supreme Court, indicting the army as guilty of fake encounters in the first six cases, the AFSPA continues to exist. Lack of political will has led to the survival of AFSPA.
Out of 552 Lok Sabha members, only 24 are from NE States and these are not enough to initiate withdrawal of the act. Despite the reports on the incidents of harassments including fake encounter and sexual harassment of women, every year the AFSPA is renewed, with State government and Army pressing for it. While the army personnel get incentives like military decorations, the State government finds it convenient to be complacent and slide the responsibility on the shoulders of the army. Unless the rest of India starts voicing the unacceptability of the act, it would not be withdrawn. The insurgency could be handled by deploying other paramilitary forces, said Ravi.
