Questioning an unprecedented move by more than 700 Army men approaching the Supreme Court for protection against prosecution in States where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is promulgated, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday said the Government and the Army will look after the personnel engaged in anti-terrorist duties.
His remarks come in the backdrop of an ongoing case in the apex court regarding alleged human rights violations in Manipur and some other States.
Moreover, the Army Chief’s assertion comes after he expressed displeasure last week over the Army men in their personal capacity going to the Supreme Court. He did not approve of the manner in which serving personnel approached the court even as the Army has been following up the issue of AFSPA.
Stating that the matter is sub-judice and he will not comment on it, Rawat, meanwhile, said here on Tuesday on the sidelines of a seminar on social media he would like to tell that the Government and the Army supports personnel serving in difficult areas including Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East for their bona fide actions.
It was learnt the Chief was more forthcoming while addressing Colonels posted in the Army Headquarters here last week regarding the issue. Rawat was of the view that such a move by serving personnel sets a wrong precedent. Moreover, it complicates the Army’s own efforts on the issue, he told the officers, sources said adding he also said there is a system for seeking redressal and the Army has always been with the soldiers on it.
Rawat also reportedly pointed out that most of the signatories to the plea before the court had never participated in counter-insurgency operations. The Chief was also unhappy with some officers of Judge and Advocate General (JAG) branch and said these lawyers had misled the soldiers and officers, sources said.
He informed the gathering that the Army was fighting these cases and the Government was aware of the matter. Also, the AFSPA is a strong law which provides protection to the security personnel operating in disturbed areas, Rawat observed, sources said. The Supreme Court last month agreed to take up the petition challenging the CBI probe against security forces in disturbed areas. The petitioners challenged the alleged dilution of AFSPA and contended that military operations against insurgency would be adversely affected by such probe against soldiers. The matter is likely to come up before the court later this week.
According to the petition, “Military operations in border areas will suffer if dilution of AFSPA in disturbed areas was allowed as it exposed security forces to unnecessary risks. Protection of soldiers acting in good faith under AFSPA is imperative to protect the soldiers engaged with direct and proxy enemy and insurgency and cannot be diluted without a specific and categorical amendment in law.”
As regards Major Nitin leetul Gogoi’s case, Rawat said any case of moral turpitude and corruption will be dealt with sternly. Gogoi was last month indicted by a Court of Inquiry and found guilty of “fraternising” with a local woman at a Srinagar hotel.
Clarifying that action will be taken against Gogoi according to his guilt, Rawat told reporters, “I had clearly said that any case of moral turpitude and corruption will be dealt with in a very stern manner. The Court of Inquiry has recommended that we should go in for court martial proceedings.
“If it is related to moral turpitude, then we will take action accordingly. If it is something else, the punishment will be (according) to the crime he has committed.”
On social media as a force multiplier, he said in his key note address the new form of media can be used for psychological warfare and to combat proxy war, insurgency and terrorism. Rawat said a study was being undertaken for the restructuring of the Army Headquarters as an organisation was needed in place at all levels for leveraging social media to meet the merging security challenges.
Referring to a mobile app designed for the welfare of soldiers and officers, Rawat said if applications are being created for them then how they can be denied the use of smartphones. The Army chief said if the armed forces do not keep pace with time and the manner in which the social media is moving forward then it will be “fire-fighting” to keep up with time.
Armed forces personnel are not encouraged to use smartphones because of the sensitivity of their job. Referring to this, Rawat said if the usage of smartphones cannot be prevented then at least the individual should be taught how to use it in the right manner.