‘Tough to operate sans AFSPA’ Politics over the Army Act
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Playing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) card. Just one day after Manipur recalled the day that Thangjam Manorama was picked up, ravaged and riddled with bullets by troops of Assam Rifles way back in 2004 and which led the then Congress Government under O Ibobi to roll back the Disturbed Area status from the Municipal areas of Imphal which automatically made the Army Act redundant, came the report, quoting defence officials as stating that letting the troops perform their duty in areas where AFSPA has been withdrawn is proving to be difficult. Presence of a Magistrate mandatory to perform their duty is the one line explanation that has been put forward. The difficulties faced by the Central security personnel is understandable for this is not exactly a conventional war where the enemy is clearly marked. However an ‘interesting’ point has been delivered and making it more so is the fact that the ‘difficult to operate sans AFSPA’ story has been leaked to the press by unnamed officials and this is something which would not have escaped the attention of all those who have been at the forefront in making their positions known against the Army Act. One wonders how the Army or the other Central security personnel operated when the Army was called out in places which have never ever come under the Army Act at any point of time. Perhaps the unnamed officials may have a better answer or give a better version of their understanding on the ongoing ethnic clash but it should not be forgotten how AFSPA was repealed from the Municipal areas of Imphal in 2004. A look back at the story of Thangjam Manorama may be in line here. On July 11, 2004 the young lady was picked up from her house by troops of 17 Assam Rifles which were then housed at Kangla and her brutalised, assaulted and bullet riddled body was recovered the following day. What happened after the brutalised body of the young lady was recovered is an event that has gone on to make up an important chapter in the story of Manipur in the 21st century. The nude protest at Kangla on July 15, 2004, which then housed the 17 Assam Rifles took Manipur to the front page of all major newspapers in India and across the world. It spun numerous stories worldwide on the role of Manipuri women in society and prompted the then Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh to personally fly down here and announce in front of the media at Raj Bhavan the constitution of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission to look into the said Army Act. A more humane Act is needed-these were the words used by the former Prime Minister of India.
In line with the demand of the time and the prevailing situation in Manipur, the then Congress Government under O Ibobi scrapped the Disturbed Area tag in the Municipal areas of Imphal. It was only later in 2022 that the BJP led Government at Delhi rolled back the Army Act from areas that come under 15 police stations in Manipur. It is against this background and the ongoing ethnic clash, that some unnamed defence officials have asserted that operating in the given situation is proving to be difficult. Not said but what can be inferred from the observation of some of the defence officials is ‘they want the Army Act back’ if the troops are to more effectively deal with the situation. Whether the said Act can make the Army more efficient in dealing with the present situation is a long call, but it should not be forgotten that after the whole of Manipur came under the said Army Act in 1980, the number of armed organisations only mushroomed. It further alienated the people from all that the Army stands for and this can be understood via the Heirangoithong massacre, RIMS killing, Tonsen Lamkhai, Malom incident which gave birth to the crusader in Irom Sharmila and many more. This is certainly not the time to play politics with AFSPA. Concentrate on the job at hand and if the Army can be called out in places where AFSPA has never been imposed, then the argument that it cannot function well without the Army Act here in Manipur sounds lame and tepid.
In line with the demand of the time and the prevailing situation in Manipur, the then Congress Government under O Ibobi scrapped the Disturbed Area tag in the Municipal areas of Imphal. It was only later in 2022 that the BJP led Government at Delhi rolled back the Army Act from areas that come under 15 police stations in Manipur. It is against this background and the ongoing ethnic clash, that some unnamed defence officials have asserted that operating in the given situation is proving to be difficult. Not said but what can be inferred from the observation of some of the defence officials is ‘they want the Army Act back’ if the troops are to more effectively deal with the situation. Whether the said Act can make the Army more efficient in dealing with the present situation is a long call, but it should not be forgotten that after the whole of Manipur came under the said Army Act in 1980, the number of armed organisations only mushroomed. It further alienated the people from all that the Army stands for and this can be understood via the Heirangoithong massacre, RIMS killing, Tonsen Lamkhai, Malom incident which gave birth to the crusader in Irom Sharmila and many more. This is certainly not the time to play politics with AFSPA. Concentrate on the job at hand and if the Army can be called out in places where AFSPA has never been imposed, then the argument that it cannot function well without the Army Act here in Manipur sounds lame and tepid.