- Ask any Northeastern citizens of the seven states, they will be unequivocal in mentioning that the region is not only neglected in terms of development as compared to other regions but also far away from getting integrated into the country’s mainstream. Of course, sustained insurgency in the region is one of the most critical reasons for keeping the Northeastern part under the safe custody of central forces, including the armed forces. And one of the instruments to keep the rising incidents of insurgency in check was the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) concurring extraordinary powers to the forces.
PC: AFPA
- For the uninitiated, the AFSPA as the law provides the armed forces powers to search, arrest and shoot on suspicion which has long been condemned by civil society organisations for undermining democratic rights. Agreed, violent insurgency in the Northeast was the reason AFSPA kept getting an extension. It is also true that it created a sense of otherness preventing full integration of the Northeast with the rest of India. Now, in a significant move, the Centre has decided to reduce the area under the AFSPA in the states of Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland. Indeed, this is a much-needed measure that will go a long way in helping the region to feel part of the mainstream.
- As you are aware, there were valid apprehensions of further alienating the Northeast with the continuation of the Law despite calls for easing/repealing the same. Remember, unfortunate incidents such as the killing of 14 people by security forces in a botched anti-militancy operation in Nagaland’s Mon district last year, which further intensified the demand for repeal of AFSPA through the Northeast. Thus, it is welcome that the Centre has decided to remove the Disturbed Area tag, which operationalises AFSPA, completely from 23 districts and partially from one other in Assam. Meanwhile, in Manipur AFSPA will no longer apply to 15 police station areas of 6 districts.
PC: Sanjiv Krishan Sood
- Further, in Nagaland too, 15 police stations across 7 districts will be exempted. Note that all these changes come into effect from 01st April and highlight the Government of India’s efforts in recent years to end the scourge of militancy in the region. That said, the application of AFSPA in Assam was far less heavy-handed compared to Manipur and Nagaland. Hence, removing the act from most of Assam was low-hanging fruit. Whereas the relatively small areas being exempted in Manipur and Nagaland mean most of these two states continue to remain in the shadow of the draconian law. Nonetheless, the process of easing the tightly controlled security grip has begun.
- Make no mistake, the curtailing of AFSPA is a step in the right direction aided by the fact that around 7000 militants in the Northeast have surrendered in recent years. Plus, agreements like the 2020 Bodo Accord and the 2021 Karbi-Anglong pact have politically addressed the root causes of regional insurgencies. Mind you, the BJP is in government alone or in coalition across all Northeast states and hence, is uniquely placed to usher in normalization in the region to facilitate economic development, which is the best antidote to insurgencies anyway. Yes, the prone-to-abuse law having roots in the colonial era should not have a place in modern India. Therefore, the Centre should aim to completely repeal the same sooner than later.
