Operating without legal cover provided by the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is a major limitation for security forces operating in Manipur in the current situation, Army sources say. They also stated that there has been no instance of attempts to snatch weapons from Army troops, even as a large number of weapons have been looted from other security forces.
“The challenges being faced by the Army and Assam Rifles (AR) get compounded by the fact that the tasks being undertaken in this complex, volatile and charged up atmosphere are bereft of legal protection and cover of AFSPA. However, challenges notwithstanding, prompt and proactive actions by the Army have saved many lives in the State with zero collaterals so far,” one source said talking of the challenges on the ground in Manipur, a view echoed by several others.
