The controversial law AFSPA that gives sweeping powers to security forces has been extended for another six months in Nagaland, where the army is conducting a court of inquiry into an ambush that went horribly wrong on December 4.
The Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, or 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.
Nagaland's rights groups and even the state government have been demanding the centre to withdraw AFSPA.
The anti-AFSPA calls recently turned intense after an ambush by the army's Para Special Forces went horribly wrong in Nagaland on December 4, when they killed six civilians who were returning from working in a mine at night. A soldier died in a subsequent attack by villagers, who surrounded the jawans in anger. Eight more civilians were shot dead in massive protests that followed.
On December 20, the Nagaland assembly unanimously resolved to demand a repeal of AFSPA from the northeast, especially the state. A five-member committee has been formed under top bureaucrat Vivek Joshi to examine the possibility of withdrawal of AFSPA from Nagaland.
The army has also agreed to give access to Nagaland's Special Investigation Team, or SIT, to record the statements of soldiers who were involved in the ambush on December 4.
It is not yet clear how the probe by the state-level team will proceed since Nagaland is under AFSPA.
AFSPA has been extended every six months for several years in Nagaland, which has long remained a "disturbed area". Declaring a place "disturbed area" is the first requirement for imposing AFSPA, a law that has roots in the colonial-era and which was used to crush protests.
NBSE HSLC, HSSLC Results 2024: Nagaland Board Releases Compartment Results For Class 10, 12 Supreme Court Notice To Centre In Nagaland's Petition To Prosecute 30 Army Personnel Five Killed, Widespread Damage In Nagaland Due To Rain-Related Incidents World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage 2 Passengers Die As 12 Coaches Of Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Derail In UP Why BJP Lost Lok Sabha Polls In Uttar Pradesh - 6 Reasons In Party Report 60 Rare Siamese Crocodiles Hatch In Cambodia In A Conservation Win Publish NEET-UG Results City-Wise And Centre-Wise, Supreme Court Tells NTA Budget FY25: Making Everyday Life Easier Must Be The Primary Goal Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.