Armed Forces Special Powers Act needed in NE: BSF

Bangalore, Mar 6 (UNI) Justifying that ''extraordinary'' situations called for ''extraordinary'' laws, BSF Director General A K Mitra today said the Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act, 1958, was indeed needed to tackle the worsening situation in the North East.

Speaking to mediapersons after a function to inaugurate 'Tarang' Auditorium constructed at BSF Signal Training School at Yelahanka on the outskirts of the city, he said special laws were drafted when ordinary laws do not work. ''This Act actually doesn't apply to us as we operate in Manipur under natural laws. However, I feel that there should be checks and balances to ensure that such acts are not abused. This act is not dramatically bad. But may be some three or four amendments can be thought of,'' he opined.

Mr Mitra said the Jeevan Reddy Commission, constituted to study the relevance of the Act, was in the process of making its recommendations and the Act was also under the active consideration of the Union Government.

Stating that the situation in Manipur was bad, he said there were so many militant groups that one had lost count of it. ''BSF has five battalions in the State to counter insurgency. We are also providing security to the mega hydro electric project coming up at Loktak lake. Despite adversities, we are holding on. In Tripura, we are protecting the border and fighting insurgency, though not on a big scale. Situation in Assam is much better compared to Manipur.'' MORE UNI