The three districts – Longding, Tirap and Changlang – which are under the Arms Forces Special Powers Act have seen increasing battles between the security forces and various factions of the NSCN.
An alleged hardcore operative of the NSCN (IM) was killed in an encounter with security forces in Longding district on Thursday morning. The killing in Longkai village was the latest in a series of killings that Tirap, Longding and Changlang have witnessed since the signing of the framework agreement between the government of India and the NSCN (IM).
The framework agreement, which was touted as an agreement to pave way for a final and lasting solution to the Indo-Naga issue, is yet to be finalized or even made public.
There is bound to be questions about the fate of the framework agreement signed between the Narendra Modi-led BJP government and the NSCN (IM) in 2015, as there has been a spate of operations against the NCSN groups, particularly against the IM, by the security forces.
That apart, the Naga organizations – the NSCN (IM), the NSCN (K), the NSCN (U) and the NSCN (R) – have been involved in turf wars in the state.
The three districts of Arunachal Pradesh remain caught between various Naga organizations and the Indian security forces. The prolonged warfare between the security forces and various factions of the NSCN is only making it worse for the citizens.
Therefore, it is time for a tangible solution. The framework agreement has failed, at least in the three districts, going by the number of operations against the NSCN and the atrocities against the citizens. The framework agreement needs a relook, so that it is not merely on paper. Citizens should not pay the price for a failed agreement.