File Picture
Centre has declared the entire Nagaland as a ‘disturbed area’ for six more months with effect from December 30 under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, while terming the state’s condition ‘disturbed and dangerous’. The move came days after the Union government constituted a high-level committee to examine the possibility of the withdrawal of the controversial AFSPA from Nagaland.
The AFSPA has been operational in Nagaland for decades.
‘Whereas the central government is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of the State of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary.
‘Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (No.28 of 1958) the central government hereby declares that whole of the State of Nagaland to be ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from December 30, 2021, for the purpose of the said Act,’ a home ministry notification said.
The notification was issued by the additional secretary in the Union home ministry, Piyush Goyal, who has been named the member secretary in the panel to examine the possibility of the withdrawal of the AFSPA.
The committee is headed by secretary-level officer Vivek Joshi.
The high-level committee has been set up apparently to soothe the rising tension in Nagaland over the killing of 14 civilians.
Interestingly , the Centre’s move is contradictory to the state government’s stand AFSPA . The Nagaland assembly had moved a unanimous resolution seeking repeal of AFSPA. I
It may be recalled that Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had said earlier that for the last 20 years the state government has been recommending that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) be removed and Nagaland taken off the list of areas declared “disturbed areas.”
Rio had tweeted his objection towards AFSPA too
Nagaland and the Naga people have always opposed #AFSPA. It should be repealed.
— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) December 6, 2021
As per PTI report , Rio asserted this while moving a resolution demanding that the Government of India repeal the AFSPA from the Northeast in the state assembly which was unanimously adopted.
