AFSPA extended for six more months in Nagaland
The Army Inquiry Team, formed to investigate the civilian killings, visited the incident site on 29 December.
New Delhi: Despite political and public sentiment against Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA), the Union Government extended the controversial Act in Nagaland for six more months with effect from Thursday.
The Nagaland Cabinet had opposed the continuation of the law the killing of 14 civilians by security forces at Oting village in Mon district.
Nagaland Cabinet has decided to ask the Central government to repeal the AFSPA not only in Nagaland but also in the northeast.
The state cabinet had decided to write to the Government of India "to immediately repeal AFSPA, 1958 from the State, and that Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by Centre should complete its investigation and submit its report by one month time."
Meanwhile, The Army Inquiry Team, formed to investigate the civilian killings, visited the incident site on 29 December.
Fourteen civilians were killed by the para special forces of the army at Oting village in Mon district of Nagaland near the Assam border on December 4. The incident took place at Indo- Mayanmar border district in Nagaland. Three vehicles of the security forces were torched by the villagers in retaliation. One soldier died and some others suffered severe injuries in the incident.
The AFSPA, gives immense powers to the military to operate freely anywhere that has been declared a "disturbed area"; no military personnel in an area where AFSPA is in force can be prosecuted without the centre's sanction.
