'AFSPA needed, legal protection must for troops'

NEW DELHI: The armed forces on Monday once again expressed their reservations against any move to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act ( AFSPA) from trouble-torn Jammu & Kashmir.

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, who is also chairman of the chiefs of staff committee , said soldiers needed ‘‘ legal protection’ ’ to be effective in the battle against militancy. ‘‘ I stand by my opinion expressed earlier that a soldier fighting anywhere at request of the government , and not voluntarily, must have legal protection,’’ said ACM Naik, who however added that it was the government’s prerogative to take a decision.

CM Omar Abdullah as well as other state politicians have been demanding AFSPA be withdrawn from some areas of the state. As reported earlier, the home ministry has proposed withdrawal of AFSPA from four districts of J&K , as some amendments to make it ‘‘ more humane’’ , but the Army as well as defence ministry have stuck to the position that it will adversely impact the battle against militancy.