Summary:
Imphal, Apr 1 (PTI) Striking a discordant note, Naga People’s Front, BJP’s ally in the Manipur government has come out against the partial roll-back of the controversial AFSPA act and demanded that it be withdrawn altogether.
The principal opposition in the state, Congress has also sought removal of the law, describing the announcement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that it would be withdrawn from areas covered by 15 police stations on Thursday, as a “beginning.” Naga People"s Front State General Secretary Honreikhui Kashung, told PTI "We are not happy with it.
Our movement is for withdrawal of AFSPA from the entire North East region and not just from specific areas." The NPF is also present in strength in Nagaland where it is the largest party with 25 MLAs and is part of the ruling coalition.
It is also present in Arunachal Pradesh.
Movements demanding scrapping of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, which empowers security forces with powers to arrest without warrants, search premises and to fire after warning, have rocked the north east and especially Manipur for long.
The killing of fourteen civilians by security forces in a series of firings in Mon district of Nagaland over December 4-5 in a botched anti-militancy operation, reignited decades old demands for removal of the AFSPA.