Army Chief General against any dilution of AFSPA Army Chief General Bikram Singh on Monday opposed any dilution of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir, saying any decision to revoke it from any part should be taken only after getting inputs from security agencies and stakeholders. ...  
05:57 PM, Jan 14, 2013

AFSPA shouldn't be diluted in J&K: Army Chief Army Chief General Bikram Singh on Monday defended the Arms Forces Special Powers Act for soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir, an act which has been under attack by activists and human rights activists. He said the dilution of AFSPA was not required. "AFSPA has been given to soldiers to operate in highly volatile environment. We should not dilute the provisions of AFSPA," General Bikram Singh said, while speaking on the...  
12:55 PM, Jan 14, 2013

India's human rights record comes under attack
by IANS
India has failed to implement the concrete recommendations made by a UN human rights mechanism, enacting only 67 out of its 168 recommendations, which paints a grim picture of human rights in the country, a prominent rights activist said on Friday. ...  
03:08 AM, Dec 08, 2012

Has India abandoned Irom Sharmila, Iron Lady of Manipur?

Irom Sharmila, Manipur's 'Iron Lady', on Monday completed 12 years of protest demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). ...
11:26 PM, Nov 05, 2012

Irom Sharmila's fast enters the 12th year

She is protesting against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. ...
07:18 PM, Nov 05, 2012

Anubha Bhonsle

Write Corner |

Irom Sharmila is in love. As soon as you say this, a great deal of wonder and hatred follows, for many there is complete surprise ...
02:59 PM, Nov 05, 2012

Irom Sharmila completes 12 years of protest Imphal: Irom Sharmila, Manipur's 'Iron Lady', on Monday completed 12 years of protest demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). On an indefinite fast, Sharmila, who is force-fed through the nose to keep her alive began her fast till death after ten persons, including a boy who received the national bravery award, were shot dead in an alleged encounter with Assam Rifles personnel at Malom near Imphal...  
12:22 PM, Nov 05, 2012

Situation conducive for phased withdrawal of AFSPA: Omar Srinagar: Stressing that situation was conducive for phased withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said there should have been more progress on the issue and he would continue to pursue the "mission". "I have made no bones about the fact that we should have made more progress on that (AFSPA). I believe we are comfortably placed for the...  
01:17 PM, Oct 21, 2012

AFSPA will end during my tenure: Omar
by
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed confidence that the day is not far when the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will be withdrawn from the state very much during the tenure of his government. "I can say with confidence that AFSPA withdrawal will take place during the tenure of this government and that day is also not very far," he said in his...  
12:56 AM, Aug 16, 2012

AFSPA to be discussed during Antony's visit to J&K New Delhi: The fate of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that gives sweeping powers to the armed forces will be discussed when Defence Minister AK Antony visits the Kashmir valley from Saturday to review the security situation there. Accompanied by Army chief General Bikram Singh and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma, the Defence Minister will undertake the two day-long tour of some of the forward areas in the...  
01:59 AM, Jul 27, 2012

Centre considering amendments to AFSPA: PC New Delhi: Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said his position on controversial AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir has not changed and the Centre is considering three amendments proposed by his ministry to the Act. The Home Ministry has proposed three amendments to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is considering them, Chidambaram said. "There is no change in the position. MHA's position...  
08:22 PM, Jun 29, 2012

Tathagata Bhattacharya

Master and a glass of Margarita |

The fact that Irom Chanu Sharmila's fast for repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur has joined Ripley's odditorium will leave ...
12:56 PM, May 10, 2012

J&K: AFSPA will go in 2 months, says Omar Abdullah

J&K Chief Minister on Monday promised that there would be progress on Armed Forces Special Powers Act. ...
12:50 PM, May 07, 2012

'129 Army men found guilty in right violation cases' Srinagar: As many as 129 Army personnel, including three dozen officers, were found guilty of human rights violations mostly in Jammu and Kashmir and North East in the last two decades, defence sources have said. Following the establishment of human rights cell in 1993, the Army has received more than 1,500 allegations of rights violations against its men but most of these have been found false and baseless, they said....  
04:42 PM, May 06, 2012

No prosecution of armymen without prior sanction: SC New Delhi: In an important order relating to Army personnel engaged in counter insurgency operations, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that those involved in encounter killings cannot be prosecuted without prior sanction of the Central Government as they enjoy immunity under AFSPA. A bench of justices BS Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar, however, said if the accused Army officials are to be tried under the court martial proceedings then no...  
05:36 AM, May 02, 2012

Policeman shot dead: J&K bunker removal justified? Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government's plan to gradually remove CRPF bunkers in the valley took a serious hit last week when a policeman was allegedly shot dead by a terrorist. While many say the strike was a message, the state government feels there is no connection between the two. The murder was definitely not a good start to the Omar Abdhullah government's peace programme. According to the plan, 40...  
07:30 AM, Apr 23, 2012

Why no AFSPA in Maoist-infested areas: Omar Srinagar: Drawing a parallel with insurgency in Maoist-infested areas, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said his state should be given a choice on revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some areas. "If Maoist-infested states can choose not to use the army, why can't my state choose not to use it in some areas?" Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter. "I want to know why...  
06:26 PM, Apr 22, 2012

Amendments to AFSPA pending: Chidambaram Jammu: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said his ministry has sought amendments in the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which were pending before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). "Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed three amendments in AFSPA. They are under consideration of CCS," he said. However, he did not elaborate on the nature of the amendments that have been proposed. Chidambaram was on a day-long...  
03:30 AM, Apr 11, 2012

PC in Jammu, Omar presses for AFSPA withdrawal Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah pressed Home Minister P Chidambaram to revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state, sources said on Tuesday after a high level meeting to review security. The meeting, chaired by Chidambaram and attended by civil, police, paramilitary, intelligence and Army officials, also discussed a strategy for "consolidating the peace of 2011", making public the interlocutors report on the state...  
04:06 PM, Apr 10, 2012

Omar to discuss AFSPA with Chidambaram again Jammu: Issue of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and reduction of troop from Jammu and Kashmir would be discussed during the forthcoming visit of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Saturday. Chidambaram is scheduled to chair a high-level security review meeting in Jammu to discuss the preparedness of state police and paramilitary forces ahead of summer. He will be flying to Jammu on April 10....  
05:19 PM, Apr 07, 2012