SC ends impunity for armed forces under AFSPA

News: The Supreme Court ordered that every death caused by the armed forces in a disturbed area should be thoroughly enquired into
Aim: To address any allegation of use of excessive force in sensitive areas beyond the the armed forces’ normal duty, thereby upholding civilian and human rights
Applicable to anyone whether the victim is a dreaded criminal or a militant or a terrorist or an insurgent
Background: Security personnel under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 (AFSPA) enjoyed immunity against criminal action for acts committed in disturbed areas
The judgment came on a plea by families in Manipur for a probe by a Special Investigation Team into cases of alleged fake encounters involving the Army and the police
Quick fact: AFSPA is operational in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Jammu & Kashmir (Withdrawn from Tripura in 2015)