Indian Armed Forces Special Powers Act Under Review
Aerospace Daily Sept 16, 2010 PROGRAMS NEW DELHI — The Indian government is in a dilemma over whether to suspend the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in some areas in Kashmir. Under the act, all security forces are given unrestricted power to carry out their operations once an area is declared disturbed. Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik said Sept. 14 that for soldiers to perform their duties efficiently, they deserve “all the legal protection” they can get. The army agrees. In a meeting last week, Indian Army chief Gen. V.K. Singh reminded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of a similar instance in the northeast where forces were withdrawn and insurgents regrouped and established their presence. Many in the past have referred to the act as “draconian legislation.” It was first applied to the northeastern states of Assam and Manipur, and was amended in 1972 to extend to all seven states in India’s northeastern region. “Armed forces should not be allowed to arre...