AFSPA Affairs

Under Clause 4(a) of the Draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA in force in Jammu & Kashmir and militancy-infested parts of the Northeast, any armed forces personnel may, after giving due warning, fire upon or use force ‘‘even to the causing of death’’ against any person acting in contravention of the law or order in force in the disturbed area if the personnel is of the opinion that it is necessary for the maintenance of public order. Clearly, the armed forces personnel’s perception of a militant or militant activities alone gives him the power to kill anyone! This is a colonial legacy we have inherited only to the detriment of our evolving democracy. However, the Defence Ministry is not convinced, the argument being that extraordinary situations as counter-secessionist operations need extraordinary measures because they are not ‘‘normal policing jobs’’. So it should not matter even if innocent civilians are killed on the grounds of mere suspicion of them being militants! This, let the Defence Ministry and those opposed to the much-needed repeal of AFSPA be reminded, happens only in banana republics. Now that the Union Home Ministry has reportedly taken the proposed amended AFSPA to the Cabinet for a final political decision, the Prime Minister must intervene to help the many APSFA wounds heal at the earliest. Is it so difficult to modernize the police and free the armed forces from extraordinary situations within the country that a well-trained and sophisticated police can then tackle with local support? THE SENTINEL