Jagdamba Mall
Recently there was an uproar in Parliament to remove Armed Force Special Power Act (AFSPA) 1958. The defence forces are armed with this law to flush out the terrorists in J&K, Nagaland, Manipur and other disturbed areas of North-East Region.
Army does not operate of its own anywhere. They act when particular State government – the victim of terrorism, requisitions them from Union Home Ministry. On having received the request from State government for deployment of Army, MHA reviews the turbulent situation in consultation with State government and intelligence agency and when it finds that State Police is failing to control terrorists and the Army operation is evitable, then only Army is deployed. When Army is in action, the terrorists run for their life. These anti-national and anti-social armed terrorists then use innocent people as their shield and try to disappear in the mob. Army jawans find it difficult to detect them. From their hide-out these terrorists target the patrolling Army jawans in unfamiliar locations and kill them in cold blood. Very often State Police becomes hostile.
These terrorists in league with pseudo-human rightists try to implicate Army jawans on fake grounds, even sometime misusing girls for allurement. They try to drag jawans into court. The jawan is suspended and his life becomes miserable. The family members suffer uncountable agony. The jawan is dragged into Military Court and the Civil Court as well, At this point of time, AFSPA comes at the rescue of such a battling jawan.
There are many Kanhaiyas around who support anti-national activities in the name of ‘free speech’. They are ever ready to defend traitors in Parliament, fight in Courts on their behalf and create opinion in favour of these terrorists. Such Parliamentarians are reported to be heavily paid by terrorist leaders for raising questions in favour of anti-national elements. Either is there law or the law is dormant due to lack of political will power. Because of these lacunae, the defence forces are demoralised.
There was a time before and after the year 2000 when AFSPA was in centre of debate in Nagaland when insurgency was at its peak when Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN – BJP+NPF) first was ruling under Neiphiu Rio in Nagaland and Atal Behari Vajpayee in Delhi. Different shadow organisations were spearheading the movement to defame Army and coronate militants. With the signing of agreement between NSCN (IM) and Delhi with active support and will-power of T R Zeliang government in Kohima, the issue of AFSPA is no more in Nagaland because Army operation is no more required and people enjoy peace and tranquillity. But there are political aspirants in Kohima who are trying to disturb the peace in Nagaland.
Now the debate on AFSPA is at its peak in Manipur because terrorism is at its peak there. Because of Army being armed with AFSPA, the terrorists find difficult to get a shelter. The Army jawans chase them to their remotest hide-outs. That is why, they are sending SOS to their god-fathers in Bharatiya Parliament and Manipur Assembly. Government of Bharat should investigate some Parliamentarians’ underground connections with terrorist elements operating in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam and punish them for their patronage to anti-nationals and terrorists. These law-makers raise paid-questions in Parliament. Their action challenges the sovereignty of the country.
Irom Chanu Sharmila, 44, of Manipur reported to be in the state of unsound mind and unsound health, is a God-given stooge in the hands of terrorists and secessionist forces who are glorifying her as a champion of anti-national forces. Government of Bharat should investigate the credentials of those MPs who are championing the cause of subversive forces in Parliament.
In fact, Government of Bharat should train and prepare the State Police to contain insurgency. The Centre should plan for phase-wise extensive training of State Police. Till then, Army may be deployed and they should remain armed with AFSPA.
(The writer is a senior journalist)
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