SRINAGAR, June 16: Indian army chief General Bikram Singh on Saturday urged his troops to “respect human rights” while continuing their operations in restive Kashmir region.
“Addressing the officers at the Chinar Corps he exhorted them to continue to operate with added zeal and elan while scrupulously upholding the law of the land, respecting human rights and undertake synergised people friendly operations,” a spokesperson of the army said.
General Bikram Singh, who is on a two-day visit to the Himalayan region for the first time since he took over as the new army chief of the country, visited the Chinar Corps Headquarters where he was briefed in detail about the prevailing security scenario in the Valley.
His visit is expected to bring the focus back on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which provides immunity to security forces while fighting militancy in the region. Human rights organisations have been demanding repeal of the “draconian” law which, they say, hampers prosecution of soldiers involved in human rights violations “outside their course of duty”.
Even the Chief Minister has been calling for a review of the act citing a decline in the militancy related violence in the region. But the chief minister, who had also garnered support from India’s Home Minister, P Chidambaram, was vetoed by the army generals who say the action could have “disastrous effects”.
“While interacting with the troops Gen. Bikram Singh stressed upon the secular and apolitical ethos of the Indian Army,” the spokesman said.
