Question

A State must protect the lives and rights of its citizens. However, at times its own actions are a source of violence against some of its citizens. Comment with the help of some examples

Answer 1

It is true that at times government’s own actions are a source of violence against some of its citizens.

• The Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958 in Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura has been a source of violence against the citizens of these states.

• The Act has resulted in large-scale violations of the rights of citizens under Articles 14, 19, 21, 22, and 25 of the Constitution.

• The Act allows any officer of armed forces to arrest or shoot the person, use of force, and to search any premise on the basis of suspicion.

• The act also bestows legal immunity to the officials protecting them from prosecution.

• Another example of state violence on civilians is related to land acquisition.

• In the name of development, the state forcefully encroached upon the land of people in Nandigram and Singur in 2007.

• When the civilians protested they had to face brutalities of police.