The ‘licence to destroy’ permitted the destruction of not only any arms dump, but also any structure used as a training camp, or simply a hideout, by armed gangs. Then there was the ‘licence to arrest’ any person suspected of having committed a cognizable offence (serious offences for which, under ordinary law, the police can make arrests without a warrant from a magistrate). Finally, the ‘licence to search’ enabled searches of any premises to make arrests or recover stolen property or ammunition. The AFSPA required that any person who was arrested by the armed forces be handed over to the
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