Protests Raging In Nagaland Over Civilian Killings

| Updated: 17 December, 2021 7:33 pm IST

Protest raging in Nagaland over civilian killings

NEW DELHI: Protesters continue to demand justice for 14 killed in Nagaland’s Mon district in Army’s counter insurgency operations earlier this month. Fresh protests erupted in the state capital Kohima on Friday demanding justice for the 14 killed in Mon.

The streets of Kohima echoed slogans to pressurize the government to repeal the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) 1958.

The rally was organised by Naga Students Federation in Kohima that saw thousands of protesters on the streets questioning the armed forces act. Protesters, “how many more orphans and widows will it require to repeal AFSPA.”

The Naga Students Federation also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding immediate repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958 (AFSPA) and justice for all the victims. The students federation also demanded that the Centre should set up a court-monitored committee headed by a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge to ensure that the recent incidents were investigated in a fair and impartial manner.

The NSF also reiterated its stand on the issue that the Special Investigation Team set up by the Nagaland govt is not credible enough to deliver justice to the victims and their families. The students body also mentioned the “willful acts of the Indian armed forces under the protection of AFSPA.” It has also demanded that the government of India must accept the failure of its intelligence agencies and apologise to the people of Nagaland.

Protests continue across the state for the third straight day after 14 civilians were killed in an ambush by the Indian Army earlier this month. Similar protest rallies were held in Naga-majority districts of Manipur. The incident triggered violence in the area in which eight more civilians were killed after security forces allegedly opened fire. An army personnel was also killed in the violence.

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