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| Fighting terror, army opposed to repeal of AFSPA | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 10: Having enough first-hand experience of terror, army is said to have opposed any move aimed at repealing armed forces special powers act (AFSPA) in the militancy-torn Jammu and Kashmir.
Official sources said the issue of repeal of AFSPA was discussed again by the top brass of the armed forces and the government was told in specific terms that since there was no marked drop in the rate of infiltration and incidents of violence in the troubled state, repeal of AFSPA would prove to be counter-productive. They said the country could not afford to make thin the deployment of troops in the state.
Sources said army authorities suggested the central government to wait for some more months till the situation improved further. They also made it clear that carrying out anti-insurgency operations in the state could become quite difficult if the troops had no legal cover.
Sources stated that the army authorities were told to direct the soldiers to show humane face and avoid committing human rights violations while carrying out anti-militancy operations.
The matter was taken up by army with the Centre following repeated demands by NC and PDP leaders to repeal AFSPA. Sources said chief minister Omar Abdullah held the view that at least an amendment be made in AFSPA if it was not possible to repeal it under the prevailing circumstances because he was not willing to give PDP an opportunity for launching a campaign against AFSPA.
The PDP has been consistent in demanding withdrawal of troops from within the civilian areas of the state. Sources said intelligence inputs suggested that large groups of armed militants were waiting across the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) to sneak into India to give impetus to the waning militancy.
In view of these reports, army was not willing to call the troops back to barracks. They wanted AFSPA to continue till there was a threat to society from militants.
A senior police officer said there should not be any objection if the AFSPA was allowed to remain in force but the army authorities needed to give 100 per cent assurance on zero tolerance against human rights violations. Sources said army's field commanders had been asked to exercise restraint even when people provoked them.
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