The persistence of AFSPA

Anubha Bhonsle writes a chapter in the book Internal Security in India, edited by: Amit Ahuja and Devesh Kapur, Oxford University Press. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, is a small, short law, just seven sections that hold within it great powers. For large parts of the country where AFSPA is a television debate and not a lived experience, the law, the need for it and how its extraordinary powers sometimes go awry is a simple reality of life. For those who live under its shadow, AFSPA plays out in every facet of life. This chapter uncovers the arrogance of this law, its application, and how it continues to persist despite many high-powered recommendations for its repeal. The remedy to AFSPA, if and when there is agreement that it is draconian within a democracy, may not be that hard.