The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Vivek Joshi will head a five-member committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to study the likeliness of removing the AFSPA ( Armed Forces Special Powers Act ) from the state due to the rising tension in the state which has killed 14 civilians so far.
The Army has assured that the probe into the incident has been going expeditiously and efforts are being made to finish it as fast as possible. It has also expressed regret over the incident by citing it as “ sad and unfortunate “. The Army stated that stringent action would be taken in accordance with the law to make sure justice is served and urged the people of the state to be patient and have faith in the findings of the queries.
The Nagaland government had earlier announced that its Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) will be included in the Central panel. This committee of five members was made after the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio met with Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Delhi to discuss the matter at hand. This meet which took place on December 23 saw Nagaland Deputy CM Y Patton and former Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang in attendance. The panel is expected to submit its report in the next 45 days.
This new committee will work towards the possibility of withdrawal of the AFSPA which has been operational for decades, and it will recommend the remedial measures. Based on these, a decision will be made.
The AFSPA has been deemed controversial for so many reasons. This act gives tremendous power to the Armed Forces to carry out operations and the power to arrest anyone without any warrant. The Act has also given immunity to the Armed Forces in case they shoot and kill someone.
The officials have stated that action will be taken against Army Personnel who were directly involved in the botched operation of counter-insurgency in the Mon district of Nagaland earlier this month after a fair inquiry takes place. After the incident protests have been going steadily across the state demanding the withdrawal of the controversial act since one of the Army Units killed 14 civilians mistaking them for insurgents in the Mon District. This operation according to Amit Shah took place when a team of 21 para-commandos of the Indian Army had laid an ambush for insurgents and mistook the civilians. Shah expressed deep regret over the incident that took 14 innocent lives.
The government has promised jobs to the family members of the 14 deceased civilians. It has also been said that SIT ( Special Investigation Team ) has been made to complete the probe and investigation of the matter within a month.
