Oversight must for shadowy army units

The report of the Board of Officers, led by the Director General of Military Operations of the Indian army, on "irregularities" by the Technical Services Division — a military intelligence unit set up by former army chief Gen V K Singh — is alarming. It says a shadowy unit was set up to topple the J&K government, try and prevent the current army chief from assuming that position, that secret funds were used in these operations, and also that evidence relating to these operations was later destroyed. That sounds more like the plot of a cheap paperback thriller, or a conspiracy theory, or something going on in one of the tin-pot countries of the world.

In India, with its history of strict civilian-political control over the armed forces, it seems like elements in a key and powerful national security body went rogue. That means these elements, within the deepest and most secret parts of the state, were in effect actively working against the interests of the state. Those entrusted with the defence of the state serving, instead, their own interests means treachery. This issue must be unravelled, carefully but surely, even though the secretive nature of things might make that tough, and despite counter-allegations of a political vendetta. Reports say the government is taking serious note of this at the highest levels, as it should.

“Who shall watch the watchers” is the issue. Or, having in place procedures and systems which ensure clandestine activities of the state do not spin out of control and start targeting the state or its citizens. No agency entrusted with such tasks should be unaccountable and not under the purview of oversight restrictions and bodies — or what can happen is scarily rogue acts like these or the abuse of ordinary citizens’ right to privacy, even life.