Centre to set up high-level committee to examine possibility of lifting AFSPA from Nagaland
Mukesh Ranjan
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 26
The Centre has decided to constitute a “five-member” panel to look into the demand for withdrawal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act – AFSPA from the states in the North-East region of the country.
Announcing this Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, in an official statement, a copy of which is with The Tribune, said, the Centre has decided “to institute a five-member committee to look into withdrawal of AFSPA from the northeastern state”.
“The committee will be headed by additional secretary (Northeast) in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and will include the chief secretary and director general of police of Nagaland, besides inspector general of Assam Rifles (North) and a representative of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),” the CM said.
Rio further said the committee would submit its recommendations within 45 days, based on which the decision on whether to continue designating Nagaland as a “disturbed area” or withdrawing AFSPA from the state will be taken.
The statement was jointly issued by Rio, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton and Leader of Naga Peoples’ Front Legislature Party T R Zeliang in Kohima today.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on December 23 to discuss the present situation in Nagaland, the CM informed, while adding that convener of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was also present during the deliberations.
“A court of inquiry will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the army unit and personnel who were involved in the Oting incident and action will be taken on the basis of a fair probe. The identified persons facing the investigation will be placed under suspension with immediate effect,” the statement read.
“The undersigned is grateful to the Union Home Minister for taking the matter with utmost seriousness and appreciates the Government of India for taking the required steps to ensure justice and also for positively responding to the voice of the people,” it further read.
Fourteen civilians were killed by security forces in firing incidents in Mon district earlier this month triggering demands in Nagaland to withdraw AFSPA from the states in the North-East region.
