STRUCTURES OF VIOLENCE

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| Structures of Violence
GLOSSARY
All Parties Hurriyat [Freedom] Conference [APHC]: An alliance of pro-freedom parties formed in 1993.
Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 [AFSPA]: Legislation that provides special
powers and immunity to the armed forces operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The immunity clause mandates that
prior sanction for prosecution is necessary.
Border Security Force [BSF]: Indian paramilitary force charged with guarding India's land borders
Central Reserve Police Force [CRPF]: Indian paramilitary force that assists the police in maintaining law and
order and containing insurgency
Criminal Procedure Code, 1989 [CrPC]: Jammu and Kashmir legislation that lays down the procedural rules that
govern criminal investigation and trial in Jammu and Kashmir
Deputy Commissioner [DC]: Head of the local administration at the district level. The office encompasses that of
the District Magistrate, District Development Commissioner and District Collector of the revenue department. He is
the detaining authority under the Public Safety Act, 1979.
Divisional Commissioner: Head of the local administration at the division level. Jammu and Kashmir has two
divisions – Jammu and Kashmir. All the Deputy Commissioners work under him.
Ex-gratia government relief: Government relief for death or disability as a result of violence attributable to the
breach of law and order or any other form of civil commotion; Rs. 1, 00,000 granted for the death of any person
Government Gunmen: State backed, sponsored, armed and controlled militia. The more predominant groups were
Ikhwan and Muslim Mujahideen. They were controlled primarily by the Indian army, but also worked with police
and paramilitary personnel. Referred to locally as renegades and Ikhwan.
Hizbul Mujahideen [HM]: An indigenous militant organization founded in 1989 and still operational in Jammu
and Kashmir.
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front [JKLF]: The first indigenous militant organization which declared a universal
ceasefire in 1994 and since then is active as a pro-freedom political party.
Lashkar-e-Taiba [LeT]: A Pakistan based militant organization founded in 1990 and operational in Jammu and
Kashmir
Muslim Mujahideen [MM]: A breakaway group of the HM that was created in 1993, and subsequently began work
with the Indian army and other State forces
Public Safety Act, 1978 [PSA]: Jammu and Kashmir legislation that allows for administrative detention without
chargesheet or trial.
Ranbir Penal Code, 1989 [RPC]: Jammu and Kashmir legislation that lays down the substantive criminal laws
Rashtriya Rifles [RR]: A special counter-insurgency force of soldiers deputed from other battalions of the Indian
army in Jammu and Kashmir created in early 1990's.
Special Operations Group [SOG] of the Jammu and Kashmir Police: Counter-insurgency wing of the Jammu
and Kashmir Police constituted in the early 1990's and alternatively referred to as the Special Task Force [STF]
Special Police Officer [SPO]: Person recruited as police officers to assist the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Some of
them were recruited from the Ikhwan/MM background. They are used for counter-insurgency and information
gathering which is against the Section 19, Police Act, 1983. They are paid a stipend and not a regular salary.
SRO-43 [Statutory Rules and Orders]: Rules for compassionate employment of family members of victims of
militant related action or other specified reasons
State Human Rights Commission [SHRC]: A quasi-judicial human rights body formed under the Jammu and
Kashmir Protection of Human Rights Act, 1997 for the protection of human rights in Jammu and Kashmir
Village Defence Committee [VDC]: Village level committee composed of civilians, armed by the government and
used by the armed forces for counter-insurgency. The VDC's came into existence in 1995.