Partial Withdrawal of AFSPA In Assam, Nagaland And Manipur: Welcome Decision
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
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By Linus Garg
First publised on 2022-04-01 07:55:10
About the Author
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
View all posts by this Author
In a major development, the Centre today decided to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from several areas in the north-eastern states of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. 23 districts in Assam, 15 police station areas in six districts in Manipur and 15 police station areas in seven districts in Nagaland were no longer tagged as 'disturbed area' leading to the withdrawal of AFSPA from these areas. In addition, it was also partially withdrawn from one other district in Assam. Earlier, AFSPA had been completely removed from Tripura in 2015 and Meghalaya in 2018.
Although the current withdrawal is not in full, it is a good beginning. States in the Northeast have been vocal in demanding withdrawal of AFSPA and such demands had intensified after the security forces botched-up a counter-insurgency operation in Mon district of Nagaland last year, killing 14 civilians. The demands are legitimate as militancy has come down drastically in the region. The government could withdraw AFSPA from a major part of Assam because it was never seriously used in the state in the last few years. But the real test is in withdrawing it from the other states.
For Nagaland and Manipur, this can be seen as a confidence-building measure. A huge number of militants have surrendered and a few accords have also been signed to bring back the insurgents into the mainstream in the last few years. If the withdrawal of AFSPA from some areas in these two states does not lead to a surge in militancy, the government will obviously remove it from other areas too. This will make the people feel less threatened as no one likes the overbearing presence of the security forces (with their naka checks and other intrusions and restrictions on movements) even when militancy has dipped.
There is no doubt that rapid economic development and creation of jobs for locals is the best way to combat militancy. This can only be done when there is peace in the region as otherwise investors will not come. The NDA government, through its Act East policy, is making a serious attempt to solve the problems of the north-eastern states. The recent partial interstate boundary agreement between Assam and Meghalaya was also a welcome development. Since the BJP, either alone or in alliance, rules in all states in the Northeast, it should use the much touted double-engine growth promise and transform the Northeast.
picture courtesy: eastmojo.com
