Repeal AFSPA, Naga organisations tell Centre

Naga organisations have once again demanded the repealing of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958.

Leaders of 26 Naga organisations met on Sunday under the banner of Forum of Naga Reconciliation (FNR), with the theme Memories of Oting and the Nagas in Dimapur in Nagaland.

A declaration by FNR said, “We, the people have come together under the theme Memories of Oting and the Nagas organised by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation on December 19, 2021 to stand in absolute solidarity with Oting village and the Koyank Naga people.”

Fourteen innocent civilians were gunned down by Assam Rifles on the night of December 4 and 5 and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had later claimed that the killing was due to mistaken identity, as the Assam Rifles soldiers felt that the civilians were militants.

Since the incident, the demand for the repealing of AFSPA has been gaining ground from across the country, especially from the North East states.

“We are outraged by the obvious intention of the senseless and arbitrary killings of innocent Naga civilians committed by India’s 21st Para Special Forces Regiment. Considering this violation of the right to life constitutes the gravest infringement of human dignity and human worth, we insist the Government of India act responsibly by immediately removing and repealing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958,” the declaration said.

FNR has appealed to the Government of India that justice be done to the victims of Oting and Mon killings and has called for appropriate disciplinary action against the Commanding Officer and personnel of the 21st Para Special Forces Regiment involved in the killings of 13 civilians and injuring at least 14 civilians in Oting on December 4 killing.