Fighting a Crucial War

The army has often been plagued by rights’ abuses as it battles counter-insurgency in various states. To ameliorate the situation, an Additional Director General (Human Rights) has been appointed

- Col R Hariharan

THE New Year-eve announcement of the Indian Army appointing Major General Gautam Chauhan as Additional Director General (Human Rights) formally recognises the importance of human rights in military operations. This is in keeping with the global trend of increased human rights awareness, particularly in unconventional and low intensity conflicts.

General Chauhan will head the Additional Directorate General for Human Rights under the Vice-Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) responsible for planning and execution of operations. He will be assisted by an officer of SSP/SP rank from the Indian Police Service on deputation. Details of the Directorate’s structure, res pon sibilities and functions are not yet available.

The creation of an exclusive body under the VCOAS for dealing with human rights issues has not come a day too soon. For nearly 75 years, the army has been shouldering the humongous responsibility of fighting insurgency groups, wholly or partly, in tandem with civil armed police forces. According to India’s Conflict Map 2019, published in the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), as many as 170 districts in 13 states of the country were affected by Left Wing Extremist (LWE)—a collective term for the ultra-left, Maoists and Naxalites—insurgency. In six north-eastern states, 69 districts faced some form of insurgency or extremism. In J&K, 19 districts are affected by militancy of a different kind because the Pakistan Army has been using militants and