FILE PHOTO: Manik Sarkar
Agartala:
Tripura has decided to do away with the Armed Forces Special Powers Act or AFSPA, a controversial law that gives the army sweeping emergency powers in troubled areas.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is also the state Home Minister, said the decision was taken at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
"We have reviewed the situation of the disturbed areas of the state after every six months and also discussed the issue with the state police and other security forces working in the state. They suggested that there was no requirement of the Act now as the insurgency problem has largely been contained," Mr Sarkar told reporters.
Former union home minister P Chidambaram welcomed the decision in a tweet this morning.
"My plea to repeal #AFSPA heard in Tripura. AFSPA withdrawn. Victory for sanity and humanity," he tweeted.
The law, which protects the forces from litigation and investigation for counter-terror operations, has been criticized as an excuse for army excesses; the army can shoot to kill, keeping suspects in custody without trial and make arrests without a warrant.
The law is in force in four other northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir.
The states can remove the law without consulting the Centre, say officials, but ground realities have been far more complicated in states like Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur.
In Manipur, activist Irom Sharmila has been on a fast since 2000 against AFSPA and alleged army atrocities, but the state government says it cannot afford to let go of army control. In Jammu and Kashmir, political parties across the spectrum want the law scrapped but the recommendation has never gone to the Centre, because the decision has to be taken by a unified command that includes the army.
The law was imposed in Tripura in 1997 to tackle insurgency in the state, following a spurt of militant violence. But in recent years, the state has been largely peaceful.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is also the state Home Minister, said the decision was taken at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
"We have reviewed the situation of the disturbed areas of the state after every six months and also discussed the issue with the state police and other security forces working in the state. They suggested that there was no requirement of the Act now as the insurgency problem has largely been contained," Mr Sarkar told reporters.
Former union home minister P Chidambaram welcomed the decision in a tweet this morning.
"My plea to repeal #AFSPA heard in Tripura. AFSPA withdrawn. Victory for sanity and humanity," he tweeted.
The law, which protects the forces from litigation and investigation for counter-terror operations, has been criticized as an excuse for army excesses; the army can shoot to kill, keeping suspects in custody without trial and make arrests without a warrant.
The law is in force in four other northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir.
The states can remove the law without consulting the Centre, say officials, but ground realities have been far more complicated in states like Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur.
In Manipur, activist Irom Sharmila has been on a fast since 2000 against AFSPA and alleged army atrocities, but the state government says it cannot afford to let go of army control. In Jammu and Kashmir, political parties across the spectrum want the law scrapped but the recommendation has never gone to the Centre, because the decision has to be taken by a unified command that includes the army.
The law was imposed in Tripura in 1997 to tackle insurgency in the state, following a spurt of militant violence. But in recent years, the state has been largely peaceful.
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