If Tripura can remove the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFPSA) after 18 years of its imposition, why cannot Jammu and Kashmir Government do the same? Is a very simple question anyone can ask. The reasons for imposing such a law are the same to fight the growing insurgency in both the border states. The decisions were taken in view of the decrease of militancy-related incidents in Tripura over the last few years. However, the security forces would be watchful over the situation. AFSPA provides unlimited powers to security forces to shoot at sight, arrest anybody without a warrant, and carry out searches without consent. Knowing that they wouldn’t face any legal action for any task undertaken under the Act. The Central Act was first enforced in Tripura on 16 February, 1997 when terrorism was at its peak in the state, which shares an 856-km border with Bangladesh. Tripura saw a rapid decline in militancy over the past five years as hundreds of militants surrendered. The ruling Left Front, which has been in power in Tripura since 1993, has been contemplating the withdrawal of the Act and had the support from opposition parties like the Congress and BJP, who were also in favour of the move. Besides Tripura, AFSPA is also in force in Manipur (excluding the Imphal Municipal Council area), Assam and Nagaland and in the Tirap and Changlang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Manipur’s human rights activist Irom Sharmila has been on an indefinite hunger strike for over 15 years, demanding the withdrawal of the Act in her home state. But in Jammu and Kashmir the ground reality is extremely different with borders remaining close to Pakistan and a close religious, cultural affinity the region has been experiencing with militancy and recently it has seen revival in some pockets of Kashmir Valley. With the present dispensation of PDP-BJP taking the charge the separatists and elements supporting them have become vociferous. During these two months of the government formation the State has experienced a spurt in militancy related incidents compared to the previous NC-Cong rule. Waving of Pakistani flags and sloganeering has become much common now a days. This has become more evident even after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh saying Govt won’t allow any Pak flag waving and slogan shouting. Today any protest in Kashmir has Pak flag as main ingredient to keep Govt of India in a warning mode. Both the Central and State Govts should work in unison to tackle this menace at an early stage rather than delay it to get caught unaware. Till then Jammu and Kashmir will have to wait for the removal of AFSPA from the State.
