The recent decision of the government of India to reduce the number of areas under the much-despised Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur is a welcome development. The improvement in the security situation and the visible outcomes of the development programmes are believed to be two key factors that prompted the decision. It comes three months after the government constituted a committee to examine lifting the AFSPA in Nagaland where 14 civilians were killed by the army in December 2021 in a case of mistaken identity. The Act, which provides sweeping powers to armed forces in the notified disturbed areas, has become a symbol of state oppression and evoked protests in several areas. The people of the NE region and Kashmir, where this Act is prevalent, have been demanding its removal for many decades.
The security forces have been accused of misusing the Act to hide their misdeeds. It gave rise to several excesses in the past that were sought to be brushed under the carpet. There has been a justifiable demand from civil rights groups and others for its withdrawal, particularly when there is improvement in the ground situation. The phased revocation of the harsh law could lead to normalisation of the situation in the sensitive Northeast region. While the latest decision of the Centre does raise hopes of ushering in a new era of peace in the turbulent Northeast, it is time for the complete repeal of the controversial legislation.
There has been popular upsurge against the AFSPA across the region. The most notable among the public protests was the prolonged hunger strike by Irom Sharmila. Though a 2016 Supreme Court judgment had clarified that the Act does not provide blanket immunity to army personnel in anti-insurgency operations, there have been several allegations of extra-judicial killings in the Northeast region. Efforts are needed to position the NE region as a bridge between the rest of India and Southeast Asia, boosting two-way trade. Similarly, tourists will flock to the region, endowed with natural beauty, only when there are no travel restrictions.