The Home Ministry will conduct a “security audit” in the Northeast and chalk out a plan to reduce the number of Central armed police force personnel deployed there.
In a recent meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, it was decided that certain “tweaking” was required as far as the deployment of the Central forces was concerned. A senior government official said the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was discussed in the meeting held on January 16 but “no considered view” was taken.
An official said insurgency related incidents in the Northeast had come down to 308 in 2017, the lowest since 1997. “Since the incidents have come down by 85%, it was felt that the number of boots on the ground should be reduced too. More responsibility would be given to the State police,” said a senior government official.
Another official said there was no final decision to repeal AFSPA as of now but the Jeevan Reddy Committee report that recommended it was discussed from time to time. The Central government appointed a five member committee headed by Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy in November 2004 to review AFSPA.
The committee submitted its report in 2005. It said besides repealing the Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 should be modified to clearly specify the powers of the armed forces and the Central forces.
Mr. Singh is likely to meet the Chief Ministers of the northeastern States after the elections in Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya. The three States will go to the polls in February.
“A decision has been taken that no more Central forces would be sent to the northeastern States. The State governments will deploy the police for regular law and order and patrolling duties. There is a plan to engage the State police in assisting the Border Security Force also,” the official said.
He said no insurgency-related incidents were reported in Tripura and Mizoram last year. No security forces were killed in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram.
A report presented at the meeting said the abductions were down by 36% in 2017, compared with the previous year. An official said 168 incidents were reported in 2016, and the number fell to 102 in 2017.
As per Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, it can be invoked in places “where the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary.”
Except Tripura and Manipur, the Centre was issuing such notifications for Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Last year, the Home Ministry gave up its power and asked the Assam government to take a decision on continuing the AFSPA in the State.
The AFSPA gives power to the Army and the Central forces deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search premises without a warrant and provide cover to forces from prosecution and legal suits without the Centre’s sanction.
