New Delhi (NVI): Asserting that the Indian armed forces have utmost respect for human rights, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat today said his force has diluted in its own way the application of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Supreme Court guidelines are strictly followed by every soldier in the anti-insurgency areas.
He said “Insaniyat” (Humanity) and “Sharafat” (Decency) are the driving ethos of the Indian armed forces but their task becomes challenging and difficult when they have to counter terrorism and insurgency by winning the hearts of the people and alienating the insurgents without any collateral damage.
Addressing the interns and senior officers of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the topic “Preserving Human Rights in times of War and Prisoners of War” here, Gen Rawat said the Indian armed forces not only ensure protection of human rights of own people but also of adversaries and deal with the prisoners of war as per the Geneva Convention.
‘They are extremely secular. The challenge is the changing warfare tactics with the advent of technology,” he said.
“Unlike the attack by any armed forces, the terror attacks remain unaccountable in international law,” he said.
“Hence, the counter terrorism and anti insurgency operations have to be dealt in a manner of winning the hearts of the people by identifying and alienating the insurgents among them without collateral damage, which becomes very challenging and difficult,” he added.
Referring to the AFSPA, which has often come under criticism, Gen Rawat said the law gives almost the same powers to the Army, which are exercised by the Police and CRPF in connection with search and inquiry operations.
“However, over the years the Army itself has diluted its application in its own way under the ten commandments issued by the Chief of Army Staff, which are to be strictly adhered by every soldier, and particularly those deployed for operations in anti-insurgency areas,” he added.
“The Supreme Court guidelines on this are also being strictly followed by soldiers, who are all given special training before their deployment in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations,” he added.
Gen Rawat said the Army Headquarters created a human rights cell in 1993, which now is being upgraded to the level of a Directorate to be headed by an Additional Director General.
“This will also have police personnel to address the complaints of human rights violations against the armed forces and facilitate related enquiries,” he said.
“A new initiative has been taken in October this year by recruiting women Jawans in Military Police Force,” the Army Chief said.
“The Army takes along with it several police personnel in search operations, but keeping in view the concerns of women during such operations, the Army has now decided to deploy its lady Jawans of its Military Police Force also,” he said.
“Keeping in view the provisions of human rights law and importance of the protection of human rights, now a Court of Inquiry is being held after every anti- insurgency operation and all records are maintained related to such operations,” he added.
