Rio: Nagaland govt firm on repeal of AFSPA

Guwahati: Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday reiterated the Nagaland government’s commitment to the unanimous resolution passed by the state assembly on December 20, 2021, calling for the removal of the AFSPA in the state.

Addressing to the media, Rio said the side-lines of a programme in Kiruphema, near here, that despite the Union Home Ministry’s decision on December 30 last year to extend the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, in Nagaland for another six months, the state government is sticking to the House resolution.

The AFSPA allows Army officers broad authority to search, arrest, and open fire in “disturbed regions” if they believe it necessary for “the protection of public order.”

“The demand of the Naga people and the state Cabinet for the repeal of AFSPA is very obvious, and the state Assembly passed a resolution on December 20, 2021, which we stand by,” the chief minister stated.

The call for the contentious Act to be repealed in the state came to a head last month after 14 civilians were killed and numerous others were injured in three distinct incidences of security personnel firing over two days, the first of which was perhaps a case of mistaken identity.

It may be mentioned that on December 23, Rio met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi alongside his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, and Naga Peoples’ Front Legislature Party Leader T R Zeliang, said that because AFSPA is an Act of Parliament, a committee to review it is needed.

“We determined that, while the system will be in place until the committee delivers its recommendations, no armed forces actions will take place during that time,” Rio stated.

If the committee recommends removing the AFSPA, the procedure will begin after the panel’s report is submitted, he added.

However, when asked if the government will make the report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with investigating the massacre of 14 civilians in Mon area on December 4 and 5, Rio said no.

Rio stated that the investigating team has concluded its work and is awaiting the final forensic report. “It has been informed to the Union Home Ministry and the response is pending,”

Rio further added of the demand for compensation of Rs 1 crore to the next of kin of those who died and Rs 50 lakh each to those injured in the December 4 and 5 events.

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