Repealing of AFSPA needs a different approach: Army chief

January 21, 2022 63 Views No Comment

NEW DELHI, JAN 21 (AGENCIES) : Army Chief General MM Naravane said that the argument on repealing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) needs a different approach, wherein the Disturbed Areas status of states needs to change.

Taking the example of Tripura, where the act was repealed, Naravane said that repealing AFSPA from Nagaland is a decision of the state government and Centre but added that the Army will be ‘most happy’ if the Army is relieved from its policing duties in disturbed areas so that it can focus on its primary role of fighting a conventional war.

“We (Army) are only the instruments in implementing AFSPA. I will be most happy if a call (to repeal AFSPA) is taken as the Army can focus on the conventional role of the Army,” Naravane said in an exclusive interview to Times Now’s editor-in-chief Rahul Shivshankar.

His comments may be viewed on the backdrop of calls to repeal the AFSPA after a botched-up Army operation resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians in the Tiru-Oting area in the Mon district of Nagaland on December 4. He also added that a thorough inquiry has been conducted by the Army’s Eastern Command to ensure that justice is delivered to all the affected parties.

It may be recalled that Gen Naravane on January 12 described as “highly regrettable” the December 4 firing incident in Nagaland’s Mon district in which 14 civilians were killed and said “appropriate action”, as required to uphold the law of the land, would be taken based on the investigation.

Gen Naravane said the Army’s Court of Inquiry ordered into the incident was expected to submit its findings “in a day or two”.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army will soon get its new Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS). The name of Lt Gen. MK Pande has been approved. The present vice chief Lt Gen CP Mohanty will retire on January 31. “The name of Lt Gen MK Pande has been approved,” sources told the The New Indian Express.

As the VCOAS he will be handling important issues as in charge of Army Headquarters based out of Delhi.

Further, the process to select the next Chief of Defence Staff continues. As reported by TNIE, Gen Naravane is the senior most among his peer group, as Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari and Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar took charge recently.

Lt Gen Pande, an alumnus of National Defence Academy, may also become the first Sapper to be appointed the Army Chief, TNIE report stated.