NESO Demands Repeal of AFSPA in NE, Urges Centre to Prosecute 21 Para (SF) Personnel Involved in Oting Incident

The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), the apex body of 8 leading students organisations of the region, have called for the complete repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the Northeast stating that this law has no place in a democracy.

Stating that AFSPA continues to “perpetuate violence, impunity, and gross human rights violations across the Northeast”, it said that the Oting massacre in which 14 civilians were killed is another tragic reminder of how AFSPA enables such heinous acts to occur with little to no accountability.

“Time and again, NESO and its constituent units have demanded the repeal of AFSPA, a law that continues to perpetuate violence, impunity, and gross human rights violations across the North East. The Oting massacre is yet another tragic reminder of how AFSPA enables such heinous acts to occur with little to no accountability. NESO demands that the Union Government immediately sanction the prosecution of the 21 Para (SF) personnel involved in the Oting massacre and deliver justice to the victims and their families. We also reiterate our long-standing demand for the complete repeal of AFSPA in the North East, a law that has no place in a democracy. Failure to do so will only deepen the cycle of mistrust and violence in the region,” NESO said in a press statement today.

Urging the Government to immediately repeal the AFSPA, the student body cautioned that failure to do so will only deepen the cycle of mistrust and violence in the region.

It also demanded the prosecution of the 21 Para (SF) personnel involved in the tragic Oting massacre, urging the government to deliver justice to the victims and their families.

The organisation in the release said that it is disturbed by the recent ruling by the Supreme Court of India regarding the Oting massacre.

“Despite overwhelming evidence unearthed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Supreme Court, on September 17, 2024, reportedly closed criminal proceedings against the accused military personnel. This decision is an outright denial of justice to the victims and their families, who have been waiting for accountability,” the press release said.

“The SIT, formed by the Government of Nagaland, conducted a thorough investigation, shows overwhelming evidence that implicated 30 personnel of the 21 Para (SF), including senior officers, in the Oting killings. The charge sheet was submitted to the District and Sessions Court of Mon, yet the Union Government has refused to sanction their prosecution,” it added.

It said that this lack of accountability undermines the legal process and mocks the rule of law, particularly in the sensitive region of the Northeast, where historical injustices have left deep scars.

“This bureaucratic impasse sends a dangerous signal—that the lives of civilians, especially those from the marginalized and often overlooked Northeast, are dispensable under the draconian cover of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA),” the NESO added.

NESO is a conglomeration of 8 apex students body of northeast – All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF).

What is AFSFA?

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act grants unrestricted authority to the armed forces and the Central Armed Police Forces stationed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone breaking the law, to arrest and search any location without a warrant, and to provide protection from legal action and prosecution without the approval of the Central government.

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