By Our Reporter
Shillong: The ever-increasing phenomenon of ‘special operations’ by both police and military formations in counter-insurgency operations has aggravated the issue of human rights violation in violence-hit regions, asserted Subir Bhaumik, Programme Director, Mahua TV, Kolkata.
Highlighting this issue at the inaugural function of a two-day national seminar on “Development, Conflicts and Democratic Governance: India’s Experience in the North East” at the North Eastern Hills University (NEHU) here on Thursday, Bhaumik said the twin trends of ‘secret killing’ and special operations adopted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to quell insurgency problem in the Northeast have given rise to a serious trust deficit in the region.
“Special operations adopted by the state police forces to neutralize insurgents have actually resulted in a serious trust deficit in the entire Northeast,” the veteran journalist remarked.
He pointed out that it is very crucial for the Central Government to re-order and re-examine the whole operation to bring in a sense of governance and stabilise the rule of law in the region.
Commenting that insurgency can never be resolved through use of gun, he added, “We need to address the problem of insurgency in a holistic way.”
Speaking on the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Bhaumik said since the Centre has already stated that insurgency in the Northeast has dwindled except in Manipur it is high time for the AFSPA to be repealed.
The seminar was inaugurated by NEHU Vice-Chancellor Prof AN Rai and was sponsored by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, North Eastern Council and the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi and Council for Social Development, New Delhi.