A parliamentary panel said it was perplexed at the ‘paradoxical situation’ on AFSPA
Noting that the final agreement on the Naga Peace Accord will have implications in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, a parliamentary panel headed by former home minister P Chidambaram has said that any such agreement will have to be taken by keep the respective state governments in confidence.
Apart from that, the report on the security situation in Northeastern states by the Rajya Sabha committee on home affairs also notes that Naga Peace Talks will have to be expedited to ensure peace as Naga groups and Tribal bodies are getting restless. "Recently the representatives of all political parties, following an appeal by the Core Committee of Naga Tribal Hohos and Civil Society Organisations, had signed a declaration that they will abstain from the election if it is held without concluding the Naga Peace Agreement," the report stated, urging the government to tread the issue carefully.
Noting security lapses in all the states in the region, the committee pointed to the transfer of the interlocutor who was driving talks between the two factions of Assam insurgent group — the National Democratic Front of Bodoland. The Committee said that the move has led to the factions being restive, who have already resorted to hunger strike. "The Committee is constrained to observe that there is a lack of seriousness of purpose shown by the government on this issue, by first shifting the interlocutor to J&K and not appointing another one immediately," the report read.
Despite a decline in cases of violence in the region, Manipur accounted for 54 per cent of all violent incidents in the Northeast. "Moreover, the number of civilian casualties more than doubled during 2017 as compared to the casualties during 2016," the report said.
The issue of the repatriation of Bru families in Mizoram was also listed as a matter of concern by the Committee. It revealed that since 2009, when the exercise began, only 1,622 families out of the 5,000 families were repatriated, and not a single family was repatriated in the last two years. "The Committee is at pains to observe that the Brus have been living in pitiable condition in the relief camps," the report stated, urging the state to review these conditions in all six relief camps.
On the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the committee said it was perplexed at the 'paradoxical situation' in the region wherein, on one hand the Centre claims on an improvement in Assam, on the other hand the state government has asked for the area under AFSPA to be increased. It further suggested that like Tripura, the Centre should consider removing AFSPA from Assam and Meghalaya.
ABOUT AFSPA
A parliamentary panel said it was perplexed at the ‘paradoxical situation’ on AFSPA. While the Centre claims an improvement in Assam, the state asks for the area under AFSPA be increased. It suggested that the Centre consider removing AFSPA from Assam and Meghalaya.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "AFSPA")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}