THE call for the repeal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in northeast India has grown stronger in the wake of the killing of 14 civilians by armed forces in the state of Nagaland in a case of ‘mistaken identity’. The government of the state is set to write to the Narendra Modi government to scrap the law which gives extensive powers to the army to maintain order in troubled areas of the region.
The state has also decided to call off the ongoing Hornbill Festival, an annual event that attracts several tourists, both from across India and abroad. Tuesday (7) was the sixth day of the signature event which takes place for 10 days.
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The decisions were taken in an “urgent meeting” of the Nagaland cabinet, Indian news channel NDTV reported.
Amit Shah speaks on Nagaland violence, opposition walks out
State chief minister Neiphiu Rio had on Monday (6) said AFSPA must be repealed as it was causing unrest in the state which borders Myanmar to the east. He said while attending the funeral services of the slain civilians that the law was a black stain on India’s image.
“AFSPA gives powers to the Army to arrest civilians without any arrest warrant, raid houses and also kill people. But there is no action against the security forces. They have created a law and order situation,” Rio said.
His remarks were significant since his party – Nationalist Democratic People’s Party – is a member of the National Democratic Alliance, which is led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Conrad Sangma, the chief minister of another northeastern state of Meghalaya and also a BJP ally, also echoed the same view. The law has been revoked in Meghalaya in 2018.
Fourteen villagers and a security personnel were killed in Nagaland’s Mon district after an operation of the Indian Army to track down insurgents misfired. A police first information report was filed which said the army’s 21 Para Special Forces “blankly opened fire”.
Indian home minister Amit Shah spoke on the matter in the Indian parliament, which is currently in session, on Monday saying it was a case of mistaken identity.
However, the defence has not worked well and the demand for scrapping the controversial AFPSA has grown stronger.
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