Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh has ordered the handing over of a jawan to the civil police in disturbed area in Assam despite objections from the 3 Corps Headquarters there.
The action of the Army Chief came in the case of a failed intelligence operation by personnel of 3 Corps Intelligence and Surveill-ance Unit (CISU) in Jorhat, Assam. The action is contrary to the long-held defence ministry stand on protection for troops operating in disturbed areas under AFSPA and days ahead of Gen. Singh’s retirement.
The Army Chief has directed the Corps Headquarters to hand over Havaldar Sandeep Thapa to the local police authorities for investigations.
The step came despite that fact that on April 3, Brigadier General Staff (Operations) of 3 Corps Brigadier Abhey Krishna wrote to his superior headquarters asking them not to hand over Havaldar Thapa. “It is recommended that the individual may not be handed over to the police as they have not requisitioned for the same. Also it will be contrary to the stand taken by the defence ministry and the ministry of home affairs in such like cases before the Supreme Court on affidavit that Section 6 of AFSPA bears the very institution of the prosecution for the individual,” Brigadier Krishna said in his letter.
Brigadier Krishna also referred to the provisions of the AFSPA which provides protection to the troops.
Not satisfied with the reasoning given by the 3 Corps, the Army Chief on April 7 again asked the havaldar to be handed over to the civil police.
On the very evening, the jawan is understood to have been produced before the civil police in Jorhat. Meanwhile, Brig. Krishna was issued a showcause notice for being awarded a censure by the Army Chief.
In the showcause notice to 3 Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag also, the Army Chief has said that Brigadier Krishna did not display “adequate urgency” to deal with the situation arising out of the offences committed by troops involved in the operation.