Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 15:
In the backdrop of Naga NGOs� yesterday�s protest-demonstrations against imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Area Act and the demand for repeal of these Acts which the NGOs referred to as �black laws and draconian acts�, the Assam Rifles today said the sole purpose for imposition of the AFSPA was to ensure law and order and peace in the region and claimed that ever since its imposition, there have not been a single incidence of human rights violation committed by the security forces.
A top Assam Rifles official in Nagaland today rubbished allegations leveled by some NGOs that the security forces in the region were using the Act as an authorization to unleash terror among the civil populace, and also denied that military personnel were conducting house searches at random, insisting that the exercises they carry out were strictly based on specific reports.
"These exercises that we carry out with the assistance of the local police are only meant to ensure the peace among the citizens", he said referring to the reports of house searches carried out occasionally by the security forces.
"Military personnel do not personally carry out searches.
They just provide a cordon for safety during such operations", he said and insisted that such operations are only carried out based on intelligence reports of movement and operation of miscreants in a particular area.
Referring to the controversial Act, he claimed that military personnel have, at no point of time, abused the power and that the Act only serves as a protective shield for the personnel.
"On occasions, acting on specific occasions, our personnel can question and even detain them but not to the extent of violating human rights", he said and asserted, "Whatever we do, we do for the security and peaceful existence of the ordinary citizen".
Also, defending the ongoing frisking operations in the capital town, the official said such operations were stepped up after the recent deterioration in law and order in the state.
He expressed satisfaction that there have been signs of improvement after such operations were stepped up.
He also informed that the Assam Rifles personnel carrying out such frisking and search operations have been instructed to show civility and courtesy while dealing with civilians.
Asked whether there have been spill over of ULFA cadres into Nagaland in the wake of the crackdown on militant bases in Assam and some border areas in Myanmar, he said barring a few such cases, no major movement of ULFA militants have been detected in the state.