In an interview with a news channel Army Chief General MM Naravane stated that the Army will be most happy if the Army is relieved from its policing duties in disturbed areas so that it can focus on its primary role of fighting a conventional war. However, there is a rider. He said that the argument on repealing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) needs a different approach, wherein the Disturbed Areas status of states needs to change.
Taking the example of Tripura, where the act was repealed, Naravane said that repealing AFSPA from Nagaland is a decision of the state government and Centre. The Army Chief’s comment came amidst calls for repeal of AFSPA after a botched-up Army operation resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians in the Tiru-Oting area in the Mon district of Nagaland on December 4. An inquiry has been conducted by the Army's Eastern Command to ensure that justice is delivered to all the affected parties. Some might try to find significance in the statement of the Army Chief.
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We will say, there is nothing new in his statement. In fact, he is following in the footsteps of his predecessors. For consumption of the general public, they will always say that the army would be happy to be relieved of internal security duties so that the force can concentrate on its conventional duties. Whereas on the other hand the defence lobby would be objecting to the repeal of the draconian AFSPA.
The defence lobby had always been at the forefront of opposing the withdrawal of AFSPA from areas where it is in force and states have always been reluctant to go against the lobby. General Naravane himself had openly admitted that the law and order situation has greatly improved in NE states including Manipur. The Union Home Ministry is of the same opinion. A ministry official said, because of the improvement in the security situation, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, has been removed completely from Meghalaya and Tripura and its application has been reduced in Arunachal Pradesh.
Overall, the security situation in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura have improved to a satisfactory level. The Jeevan Reddy committee recommended repealing AFSPA as the Act is a symbol of hate, oppression, and instrument of high-handedness. It had submitted its report on June 6, 2005.
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After 10 years, the government of India rejected the recommendation. The Administrative Reforms Commission headed by Verrappa Moily also recommended repeal of the Act in 2008. Thereafter, the Supreme Court appointed the Justice Santosh Hegde committee to investigate encounter killings in Manipur based on a writ petition filed by the Extra-Judicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM in 2012.
While methodically exposing the Act’s failure to tackle insurgency in the state, it had noted in its report that AFSPA was an impediment to achieving peace in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir and the North East. The commission also said the law needs to be reviewed every six months to see whether its implementation is actually necessary in states where it is being enforced. However, these review meetings turned out to be a routine exercise always overwhelmed by security considerations and further extension of the Act.
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Manipur had never demanded withdrawal but repeal, as was the demand of the Iron Lady Irom Chanu Sharmila. Besides Irom Chanu Sharmila’s 16 yearlong lone battle of indefinite hunger strike, the state of Manipur witnessed an unprecedented movement against AFSPA in 2004. On July 15, 2004, 12 Meira Paibi leaders had disrobed in front of the historic Kangla Fort in the heart of Imphal, the then headquarters of the Assam Rifles protesting against the brutal killing of Manorama Thangjam, a 32-year-old woman.
A judicial commission set up to look into the case painted a scathing account of torture that Manorama allegedly suffered in her final hours. The anti-AFSPA movement ignited by the Manorama incident not only led to lifting of the Act from the Greater Imphal area which has seven assembly constituencies, and the formation of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee.
