Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Dec 26: The Nagaland government on Sunday said a committee will be formed to look into the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland.
The statement comes three days after Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, state’s Deputy CM Y Patton, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and other senior officials.
It also stated that the committee will be chaired by the additional secretary-NE, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and will include the chief secretary and director general of police Nagaland. IGAR (N) and representatives of CRPF will also be part of the committee, which will submit its report in 45 days.
It also stated that the withdrawal of Disturbed Area and AFSPA from Nagaland will be based on the committee’s recommendations. The contentious Act empowers the armed forces to detain and arrest people without a warrant in “disturbed” areas.
It comes on the heels of the Army killing civilians in a botched ambush at Oting in Nagaland’s Mon district on December 4. Following the incident, the Northeast had almost unanimously demanded that AFSPA be repealed.
Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting to discuss present scenario in Nagaland on Dec 23. The meeting was attended by Nagaland CM, Assam CM & others. In the meeting, it was decided that a committee will be instituted to look into the withdrawal of AFSPA in Nagaland: Nagaland Govt pic.twitter.com/BAHd2xePzR
— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2021
A Court of Enquiry will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the Army unit and Army personnel who were directly involved in the Oting incident, and action will be taken immediately based on the “fair inquiry.”
According to a Nagaland government statement, the identified individuals who will face the investigation will be suspended with immediate effect. The deceased’s next of kin will be given government jobs.
To begin this process, the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Mon district will carry out the necessary procedures in consultation with the concerned village councils, and government jobs will be distributed based on eligibility on compassionate grounds.
The state government urged all sections to remain calm and maintain a peaceful environment.
“The democratic and peaceful nature of the civil society groups, tribal hohos and mass-based organisations in our collective quest for justice and truth has been well received and has created a positive image of the Naga people to rest of the global community,” the statement from the state government reads.
