Guwahati: The committee set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to recommend measures for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Nagaland missed the deadline for submitting its report.
The MHA committee, which was formed in December of last year, had 45 days to provide its report and recommendations.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has previously stated that the committee had 45 days to present its recommendations report (by February 9).
The Hindu, on the other hand, obtained a copy of the MHA order, which states that the committee must offer “appropriate suggestions” within three months (March 26).
According to the newspaper, NPF leader TR Zeliang said the committee has requested a three-month delay.
Following the December 4 killing of people by security forces in Nagaland’s Mon district, there has been a growing demand for the withdrawal of AFSPA from Nagaland and the Northeast as a whole.
On December 4, commandos from the Indian Army’s 21 para special forces shot and killed at least 13 civilians in a bungled counter-insurgency operation.
The Centre was forced to form a committee to offer recommendations in response to the growing clamour for the AFSPA to be removed from Nagaland.