In spite of the strong recommendation of the Intelligence Bureau to revoke Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Assam, the Army and the state government colluded to get it extended for another one year in the state.
Disclosing that the Central intelligence agency was of view to revoke the AFSPA in Assam, authoritative security sources in the home ministry told this newspaper that in view of substantial fall in violence, the Intelligence Bureau had proposed its revocation in the state besides proposing a leading role to the state police instead of the Army in maintaining law and order in Assam. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 was enacted 50 years ago, as a short-term measure to allow deployment of the Army against an armed separatist movement in Northeastern states, particularly in Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur.
Under this Act, all security forces are given unrestricted and unaccounted power to carry out their operations, once an area is declared disturbed. Even a non-commissioned officer is granted the right to shoot to kill based on mere suspicion that it is necessary to do so in order to “maintain the public order”.
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‘No cop laxity in gujarat riots’
Ahmedabad, Dec. 19: Gordhan Zadafia, who was minister of state for home during the 2002 Gujarat riots, has denied allegations that the police was directed not to take action against rioters and allow people to vent their anger against a minority community post the Godhra train carnage.
Deposing before the Nanavati Commission, he has denied the Narendra Modi government had asked the administration and the police not to act for 24 hours after the torching of Sabarmati Express near Godhra on February 27, 2002 and let people vent their anger against a minority community. “It is incorrect that there were directions from the state government (for police) not to take any steps in case of riots for 24 hours (after the Godhra incident),” Mr Zadafia has stated before the two-member panel. He was last questioned by the commission, headed by Justice (retd) G.T. Nanavati, in November 2010. — PTI