Nagaland Violence: Hornbill Festival Reportedly Cancelled Over Civilian Killings
The cabinet of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has called call off the ongoing Hornbill Festival as a protest against the killing of 14 civilians by security forces, according to official sources as per PTI.
The cabinet of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has called call off the ongoing Hornbill Festival as a protest against the killing of 14 civilians by security forces, according to official sources as per PTI.
The state government will also write to the Centre and demand the repeal of AFSPA, the official sources added.
The 10-day Hornbill Festival is Nagaland's largest tourism extravaganza held at Naga Heritage Village in Kisama.
PTI
Many tribes from eastern Nagaland and different areas in the state stopped all activities at their respective Morungs in the wake of the killing of civilians in Mon district.
Protests
The CM attended the funeral of those killed which and he joined a growing chorus of demands seeking AFSPA to be repealed so that special powers to security forces in "disturbed areas" are no longer there.
Critics say the law is full of controversy and it provides the armed forces to act with impunity and that leads to violations of human rights.
PTI
Probe ordered
A probe has been launched into what caused civilians to be shot by security forces. The loss of life saw outrage across the nation and the protests in the state have grown in the wake of the killings.
The controversy of AFSPA has been highlighted once again.
¡°Nagaland and the Naga people have always opposed AFSPA,¡± Rio said in a tweet. ¡°It should be repealed.¡±
Nagaland and the Naga people have always opposed #AFSPA. It should be repealed.
¡ª Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) December 6, 2021
He said that the law allows the security forces to raid homes and kill people.
HT
On the same lines, his Meghalayan counterpart Conrad Sangma tweeted: ¡°AFSPA should be repealed.¡±
AFSPA should be repealed
¡ª Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) December 6, 2021
Later in a video message, he said his party has opposed the AFSPA since the days of his father and former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma.
¡°AFSPA has not given any results. In fact, its enforcement has proved to be counterproductive. There are many ways to deal with (insurgency) issues. AFSPA is not the way. Repeal the draconian law,¡± the National People¡¯s Party leader said.
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