Indian Tribal News Service
New Delhi/Guwahati
Contrary to expectations, the Centre on Thursday extended the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland for another six months.
The extension move comes despite the Nagaland Assembly passing a resolution demanding its withdrawal from the State, protests against the law by the citizens and also the Centre setting up a 5-member committee to look into the possibility of its removal.
The controversial law AFSPA gives sweeping powers to security forces.
The move also comes at a time when the Army is conducting a Court of Inquiry into the botched anti-terror operation wherein 8 civilians were killed by the forces mistaking them for suspected militants.
In a notification, the MHA said, “The Central government is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of the State of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary.”
The notification said that in exercise of powers conferred under Section 4 of the Act, “The Central government hereby declares that whole of the State of Nagaland to be ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from 30th December, 2021, for the purpose of the said Act.”
The Army has agreed to provide access to the State’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) to record and examine the statements of its troops, involved in the incidents of firing on the fateful day and after.
With the Nagaland Assembly passing a resolution for removal of AFSPA and vociferous demands for it from people across the State, the Centre on Sunday (December 27) instituted the five-member committee chaired by Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Vivek Joshi with Additional Secretary in the Union Home Ministry as its Member-Secretary. The Chief Secretary and DGP of Nagaland and the DGP of Assam Rifles will be the other members of the committee, they said. The committee will submit its report within 45 days.
Earlier, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy CM Yanthungo Patton and Naga People’s Front Legislature Party leader TR Zeliang said the decision to set up the committee was taken in a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 23. Convened to discuss the present scenario in Nagaland, the meeting was also attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
