When the army was brought out of the barracks for the first time during the state of emergency, the main aim was to disarm the Maoists. But certain officers in the army who are given the responsibility of maintaining security have crossed the limits of their authority. This was evident in Putalisadak during the anti petrol hike protest by the students. Legally, the local administration is supposed to take the help of the police to control such demonstrations and riots. But on that particular day, Brigadier General Dilip Kumar Karki who had come to the street without his uniform was seen ordering his bodyguard to open fire at the demonstrators. It was the restraint shown by the bodyguard that averted a tragedy. Such display of arrogance only proves that those with power and arms will go to any extreme to use their authority. The local administration has been granted the authority to curb violence on the streets. The most it can do is shoot at rioters below the knee if the situation gets out of control. But nobody has the authority to fire at demonstrators. When a responsible officer goes beyond his jurisdiction and gives orders to shoot, it is natural for ordinary citizens to be terrorised. Billions of rupees have been spent on the army and weapons to control the Maoist violence. But instead of security, ordinary citizens are experiencing terror. The army should know it is necessary to seek the support of the people to control the rebels and it will get that support only if it disciplines officers like Karki.