Afspa-Evil Or An Angel In Disguise?

Do we really need it? This is a debatable topic-that AFSPA is needed or not? On the one hand, it does violates the basic human rights and on the other, it has got the necessary power to protect the people from creating unecessary chaos.

AFSPA(Armed Forces Special Act Power) are acts of the Parliament of India promulgated in 1958.
The power with AFSPA involves shooting at sight and arresting without any proper warrant. Can we imagine living in a place where the armed forces have this much power for more than a decade? Life will be hard-boiled. People will live with constant fear and the darkness will seize the minds of little children.

It is necessary but with certain limitations.The AFSPA need not be permanent fixtures and it can be lifted once normalcy is restored. It should not be imposed on forever.

Irom Sharmila, better known as the “IRON LADY” fasted for 16 years to end the dreadful AFSPA Act in the state of Manipur. The reason for her fast was-10 civilians waiting at a bus stop was killed by the Assam Rifles soldiers. Later she was arrested by the government to attempt suicide.

The situation is such that blaming either of them is not right. Neither the AFSPA is promoting violence, nor the public is demanding for the wrong rights. But the media plays a major part in this play, they print over-hyped news stating that the militants have killed the civilians. And this misunderstanding causes chaotic relation between both. A more rational approach towards this can be beneficial for both. Many political parties promise to change the way ASFPA work but there are disappointments among the people. The Supreme Court in its decision said that all the encounters carried out by armed forces should be subjected to inquiry. People have filed many cases that fake encounters are carried under the garb of AFSPA, and thousands of innocent people are killed.

However many situations are stabilized under AFSPA. They control the terrorist activities that happen in these disturbed areas. Also if AFSPA would be totally banned then taking over J&K would be too easy for Pakistan. And also the northeastern states which face grave danger from the neighboring Countries are taken care by ASFPA.

However, neither of them can be declared as the warrior and the criminal. The country must perform what’s best for a society without harming one’s own kind and territorial integrity must be ensured.

Image source: Outlook