Atrocities under AFSPA unimaginable: Bardhan
Source: The Sangai Express
Bhubaneswar, August 13:
The CPI today asked the Centre to adopt a 'wait and watch' policy on the situation in Manipur where the State Government had withdrawn the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from parts of Imphal.
"No one can say what the consequences of this development will be, but my request to the Centre is to adopt a wait and watch policy", CPI general secretary AB Bardhan said.
There should be no hurry by the Central Government to re-impose the provisions of the law again even though it had overriding powers, he told reporters here.
"The Centre should not use its overriding powers", he said.
The CPI leader, however, said that some of the provisions of the AFSPA were "very horrifying" which were meant for the army facing enemy forces.
It gives the jawans a free hand to shoot and kill, he said.
"Should we apply the same criteria in a state where a jawan can shoot without questions being asked", Bardhan asked adding it was not a Kashmir-like situation where terrorists were coming in from across the border.
Bardhan said that the "atrocities were unimaginable", adding "have you seen anywhere women coming out in the nude to protest"? The Assam Rifles have been occupying the centre of Imphal for the last 24 years; he said and pointed out "we have been demanding its removal from there".
Bardhan, however, agreed that the demand for complete withdrawal of the AFSPA could have repercussion in some other States.