As per the latest report of the MHA, incidents of insurgency in the northeastern states reduced by 80 percent in the last eight years, while casualties of security forces went down by 75 percent and civilian deaths by 99 percent. This report was made official on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Assam announced that efforts are on to remove the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA completely from the Northeast region. Going by the official report of the MHA, the AFSPA can be withdrawn from the NE region immediately. The continuation of this draconian law is utter disrespect to the people of the region.
The majority of the population have chosen peace and are leaving insurgency. States like Nagaland and Manipur, which once witnessed massive insurgency activities, are much more peaceful. Even the armed insurgents have opened up dialogue with the government. The continuation of the AFSPA in fact will send out the wrong signal to the rest of the world. Also, it will hurt the sentiments of the people of the NE region. The government of India should urgently lift the AFSPA from the whole NE region as soon as possible. Peace should be given a chance.