Nagaland: Govt extends AFSPA for 6 months amid row over civilian killings

The Centre on Thursday extended the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) for another 6 months in Nagaland.

AFSPA gives unprecedented powers to the Armed Forces in the regions it is imposed in addition to protection from prosecution without Centre's sanction. Nagaland has been termed as 'a disturbed dangerous area that use of armed forces in aid of civil power is necessary' by the government.

Rights groups across Nagaland, and the state government too has been demanding a repeal of the law in the state. These calls against the law were amplified when 13 civilians were shot dead by the army's Para Special Forces. It was an ambush attempt gone sideways inviting the wrath and anger of civilians which led to the death of a jawan.

While the Army is conducting a court of inquiry in the ambush gone wrong, a decision was taken unanimously in the Nagaland Assembly on December 20 demanding a repeal of AFSPA from North-East, particularly Nagaland.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted by the state to record statements of soldiers present during the shootings on December 04. Despite access given by the army to the SIT to talk to the soldiers, it is unclear how this probe will progress further since Nagaland continues to be under AFSPA.

For several years now, AFSPA has been extended in Nagaland every six months, under the guise of a 'disturbed area' which is the first necessity to get a region under the AFSPA.

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