Nagaland Assembly Passes Resolution Demanding Repeal Of AFSPA After Civilian Killings

On December 4, Army personnel mistook coal mine workers to be insurgents belonging to the Yung Aung faction of the banned outfit NSCN (K) and opened fire, killing six people.

Charred remains of vehicles of security personnel in Assam's Mon district (PTI)

New Delhi: Weeks after the killing of 13 civilians by security forces in Nagaland led to nationwide outrage, the state Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution demanding that the Centre repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the Northeastern states. 

AFSPA gives special powers to security forces in "disturbed areas". AFSPA is in force in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, was adopted by voice vote during the special session of the Assembly, PTI reported.

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On December 4, Army personnel mistook coal mine workers returning home in a pick-up van to be insurgents belonging to the Yung Aung faction of the banned outfit NSCN (K) and opened fire, killing six people.

Eight others, including an Army man, were killed in subsequent clashes between the forces and villagers. 

"The Nagaland Legislative Assembly vehemently condemns the massacre that took place in Oting-Tiru Village area in Mon District on 4th December 2021 in the indiscriminate firing by the 21 Para Special Forces of the Indian Army in which 13 innocent people were killed, followed by the killing of one innocent person by security forces at Mon town on 5th December 2021, and injuring of 35 persons during the incidents," the resolution says.

The House also sought an apology from the "appropriate authority" along with an assurance that justice would be delivered by applying the laws of the land upon those who perpetrated the "inhuman massacre and upon those who are responsible for the incidents".

The Assembly also appealed to the people of Mon district, and the citizens of the state to cooperate with the government and its agencies to demand justice and restore normalcy.

"The House appreciates and supports citizens and civil society organisations in their demand for repealing of AFSPA and delivery of justice while appealing to all sections to follow democratic norms and non-violence in our collective endeavour towards realization of peace and delivery of justice," the resolution says.

The resolution also urged the negotiators of Indo-Naga political dialogue to bring the talks to their logical conclusion for peace in the state.

This was for the third time in little over six years that the Nagaland Assembly passed a resolution for the repeal of the AFSPA. 

Earlier this month, CM Neiphiu Rio had said the excesses committed by the armed forces through the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act do not go well with people of a democratic country like India. 

He had also said that AFSPA gave powers to the Army to arrest civilians without any warrant, raid houses and also kill people but there was no action against the security forces.