agaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio,  said that the Centre was considering Nagaland’s demand for the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Addressing an event on the occasion of Republic Day 2022, Rio said that the special investigation team (SIT) formed to probe the deaths of 14 civilians by security forces in Nagaland’s Mon has made good progress.

“The central government is considering the matter and we are hopeful of a positive decision soon… We are sure that justice will be delivered to the families,” Rio said during the event.

The Nagaland Assembly, on December 20, passed a resolution seeking scrapping of AFSPA in Nagaland. The state government has also approached the Centre with a demand to repeal the act which gives the security forces the much-needed legal protection while operating in disturbed areas.

Army Chief assures delivery of justice

“We will continue to facilitate and be hopeful of an early solution,” he further said. The Army has already been probing the unfortunate incident that took place in Mon, Nagaland on December 4. Speaking to Times Now last week, Army Chief General MM Naravane assured that the inquiry report has already been submitted to HQ Eastern Command and expressed confidence that justice would be delivered to all the affected parties in the incident, including the security forces.

He also stressed that the withdrawal of AFSPA was linked to a state’s status as a ‘disturbed area’ and added that the Army was more than willing to focus on its primary duties of focusing on external threats if disturbed area status of Nagaland was removed, thereby facilitating the withdrawal of AFSPA.