No Recent Cases of Misuse of AFSPA in North East: Indian Army

Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General that if the army is required to handle insurgency, AFSPA is necessary.

Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila has been fighting to get AFSPA repealed from the northeastern state of Manipur. (Photo: Reuters)

• Defending the imposition of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the North East, the Army said on Monday that there was no recent cases of misuse of the law in the region.
  
  
• Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General, Praveen Bakshi said if there was any breach of AFSPA it was dealt with firmly by the army, adding that if the army is required to handle insurgency, AFSPA is necessary.
  
  
• Various human rights organisations have long been demanding repeal of the AFSPA which they call a “draconian” law. But Bakshi maintained AFSPA is an “enabling provision”.
  

(With inputs from PTI.)

Also Read: The Rhetoric, Reality, Needs and Concerns Around AFSPA