Nagaland CS, DGP in committee chaired by MHA's Additional Secretary for NE
The Centre has agreed to set up a committee to look into a growing demand by protesters in Nagaland to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the State. The decision was taken at a meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland Deputy CM Y Patton, and NPFLP leader TR Zeliang were present in the meeting held in Delhi on December 23.
The new committee will be chaired by the Union Home Ministry’s Additional Secretary for North East and include the Chief Secretary and the DGP of Nagaland. “The Committee will submit its report within 45 days and withdrawal of Disturbed Area and AFSPA from Nagaland will be based on the recommendations of the committee,” said a statement released by the Nagaland Government on Sunday. The representative of the CRPF will also be in the committee.
On November 20, the Nagaland Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution demanding that the Government of India repeal the AFSPA from the region. Moving the resolution, Rio said for the last 20 years the State Government has been recommending that the controversial Act be removed and Nagaland taken off the list of areas declared “disturbed areas.”
A court of inquiry will initiate disciplinary proceedings against Army personnel who were directly involved in the killing of 14 civilians in a botched anti-terrorist operation earlier this month. The State Government will provide jobs to the next of kin of the deceased. The Nagaland delegation impressed on the Union Home Minister to replace the Assam Rifles unit in Mon with immediate effect, said the statement.
During the last weeks, Nagaland saw massive protests to protest against the AFSPA after the killing of civilians by security forces in Mon district on December 4-5.
Normal life has remained affected in many parts of Nagaland as tribal bodies and student organisations observed bandh and protest to press for repeal of the AFSPA.
The AFSPA, which was enacted in 1958 by Parliament, grants special powers to the armed forces to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”.
