A committee will be formed to look into the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Nagaland, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tweeted after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah this afternoon. The demand for the withdrawal of the law — which gives a wide range of powers to the army — had surged in the state after 14 civilians died earlier this month in a botched operation by the army in Mon district and the retaliatory violence. Protest marches were held across the state, including in state capital Kohima.
At the meeting, which was also attended by Himanta Biswa Sarma — the Assam Chief Minister and the BJP’s pointsperson in the northeast — it was also decided that the committee will be comprise Centre and stae government officials and the state police. The committee will submit its report within 45 days and the withdrawal of AFSPA will be based on its recommendations.
In a statement, the government also said that a Court of Enquiry will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the army unit and personnel involved in the Oting incident. “The identified persons who will face inquiry will be suspended immediately,” the statement read.
The state, it added, will provide jobs to the families of the people who died.
In a statement, the army requested the people to have patience. “The inquiry ordered by Army is progressing expeditiously and all efforts are being made to conclude it at the earliest… The Indian Army is also fully cooperating with the Special Investigation Team,” the statement read.
Last week, the Nagaland assembly unanimously resolved to demand a repeal of AFSPA from the northeast, especially the state. Mr Rio led the Assembly in passing the resolution at a special session.
“Nagaland and the Naga people have always opposed AFSPA. It should be repealed,” the Chief Minister had said days after the violence, in a searing attack on what he called the “draconian law”.
After the Oting incident, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, whose National People’s Party is a member of the National Democratic Alliance, also called for its repeal, saying AFSPA is counter-productive and has caused “more unrest”.
