Kohima: Demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), hundreds of Nagas from different walks of life on Monday joined the two-day walkathon from Nagaland's Dimapur to state capital Kohima, a distance of more than 70 km.
Reportedly, after a night halt in Piphema, the march will resume at 6:00 am on Tuesday, 11 January, and move towards Kohima.
According to reports, several locals and organizations are likely to join the march before proceeding to the Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum.
The march began at the Super Market area of Dimapur with volunteers and participants holding placards, demanding the repeal of the AFSPA and justice for the victims, who were killed by security forces in a botched anti-insurgency operation in Mon district over December 4 and 5.
Recently, a committee was formed to look into the demand of the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from Nagaland, which was supposed to submit its report to the government within 45 days.
The committee was formed after Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 23 in New Delhi chaired a meeting which was attended by Nagaland Chief Minister, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, and Naga People's Front (NPF) Legislature Party leader TR Zeliang.
The meeting also discussed the present scenario in Nagaland and the decision about the formation of the committee was taken in that meeting.
However, days after forming a committee to review the AFSPA in Nagaland, the Centre had extended it in the entire state till June 30 next year, declaring the entire state as a 'disturbed area'.
"Whereas the Central Government is of the opinion that the entire area comprising the whole of the state of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition that use of armed forces in aid of Civil is necessary,'' according to the Gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
"Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Power) 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 30th December 2021, for the purpose of the said Act," the notification read further.
The AFSPA empowers the security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant. It also gives immunity to the forces if they shoot someone dead.
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