Panel to decide on withdrawing AFSPA, says Nagaland CM

A committee will be formed to look into the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Nagaland, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tweeted after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah  on Sunday. The controversial Act gives sweeping powers to the armed forces to detain and arrest people without a warrant in areas designated as "disturbed". A statement released by the government said the decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah and attended by Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland deputy CM Y Patton and NPFLP leader TR Zeliang. New committee will be chaired by the MHA’s additional secretary for northeast and include the chief secretary and director general of police of Nagaland among others.

Briefed the media with regard to the meeting chaired by Hon'ble @HMOIndia Shri @AmitShah on Dec' 23, 2021 in New Delhi. Grateful to Amit Shah ji for taking up the matter with utmost seriousness. The State Govt. appeals to all sections to continue to maintain a peaceful atmosphere pic.twitter.com/a8CLuw3MM6

— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) December 26, 2021

Last week, the Nagaland assembly unanimously resolved to demand a repeal of AFSPA from the northeast, especially the state. "Nagaland and the Naga people have always opposed AFSPA. It should be repealed," the Chief Minister had said days after the violence earlier in a searing attack on what he called the "draconian law".