by Brig Arun Bajpai

TOI dated 01 Sep published an article by one IG Police of Ex CRPF by the name MP Nathanael, where this Policia says that AFSPA is not a licence to kill, charges of extra judicial killings by security forces must be investigated. This Policia IG Sahib apparently is living in the world which does not exist. It is good to sermonise sitting in comforts of your home but ground realities are quite different which the Army and security forces face. Since this Policia IG who may be earlier working in traffic police of some state and then may be got himself parachuted in CRPF, has raised these points then he must be prepared to answer following questions honestly and truthfully.

Q1. AFSPA came into being in 1958 when Nehru a total democrat was PM. It was instrumental in sorting out insurgencies which were at their peak in Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Where in all these insurgencies sorting out Army used AFSPA as licence to kill? Why there was no need of investigation by CBI then and why now?

Q2. AFSPA lays down that no action will be taken against any Army person without the consent of the Central Government. In other words states have no powers over the Army so far as any act under AFSPA and this power rests with Central Govt. So what is wrong with this? Investigation is not denied only this power has been bestowed to Central Government?

Q3. Role of Army is to deal with the external threat and not internal insurgencies. Now with CPOs and Paramilitary force strength hitting one million, whose job is internal security, why Army is still being used for internal security and being over stretched? 

Q4. Every second day where AFSPA is applicable you find army officers also getting martyred along with troops. This means Army officers are leading from front. How is that Naxals and others kill CRPF troops in bulk and get away without any CRPF officer getting martyred or Naxals and others getting killed? IG Sahib where you lead from? Front or back?

Q5. IG Sahib you have written in your article that army has a well oiled machinery to detect aberrations. But still it is always better to carry out investigations by an outside agency for objectivity. Very good then why your own CRPF, police and all other Government agencies insist on carrying on departmental investigations of all wrong doings? Are they all chors?

 Q6. IG Sahib Your statement that in J&K joint operations of Army, CRPF and local police are proving very effective in neutralising jehadis is total Bakwas. This is now effective because in J&K now it is Governors Rule. Till now was your CRPF not getting pelted with stones?

Q7 IG Sahib you have said that despite Army operating in Manipur for four decades still the Manipur insurgency goes on. Good you must then educate us why in Manipur which is smallest state in India, there are 6000 heavily armed insurgents with Chinese Arms and training? You must also explain to we the uneducated as to why despite operating against rag tag Naxals by CRPF for last two decades still you get killed in bulk? yeh kiya ho raha hai?

Finally IG MP Nathanael Sahib let me educate you on why and how nobody should caste doubt and try to dilute AFSPA because then security of India will get badly compromised. And we will be playing in the hands of Tukade Tukade gang .Following points are of utmost importance.

Army is the last resort in solving an insurgency .It is the responsibility of police and CPOs to maintain law and order .If Army is called in that means things are beyond the control of police and CPOs and all this human rights etc must take back seat.

Army is trained in the concept of Shoot to kill. How can you start investigating an organisation if it shooting to kill? Then why call the Army?

Indian Constitution says that if things are so bad that Army has to be called in dealing with insurgency, then first declare the Area disturbed and then impose AFSPA. This Act rightly gives total impunity to Army being last resort; of course on sanction from central govt, any wrong doings will be investigated and punished.

Indian Constitution Also lays down that if necessary even Martial Law can be imposed and the state Government in power dissolved.

There is no mention of any Joint Command by Indian Constitution as is happening now where the same CM and Babus who brought about this worst situation in the state becomes chairman of this joint command. This must stop forthwith. It is this stupidity which allows Army and CPOs to continue no result.

Brig Arun Bajpai (Retd) is a distinguished Defence and Strategic Analyst. Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of IDN. IDN does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same