Armed Forces Special Powers Act is ‘required’ in Nagaland, says Imchen

Patton also said that whether or not to lift AFSPA in Nagaland is with the Centre.

KOHIMA — Advisor of Information and Public Relations and Soil and Water Conservation, Imkong L Imchen on Monday said that the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is “required” in Nagaland given the present situation and the attitude of the people.

He was participating in a starred question raised by the Naga People’s Front (NPF) MLA Achumbemo Kikon on the “disturbed area” tag for Nagaland and the border areas, during the three-day second session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) which commenced in Kohima on Monday.

Recounting his past experience as Home minister of the state, Imchen said that he thought the AFSPA should be lifted but at the same time thought otherwise. The state police would be harassing and resorting to killings their own people in the absence of AFSPA, he reasoned.

In the meantime, he said that all the 60 MLAs don’t oppose the lifting of AFSPA in the state.

‘The settlement of Naga political issue should be brought about at the earliest in whatever form it may be, so that people will have a comfortable mind, because idle mind generates evil designs,’ he added.

Meanwhile, Achumbemo Kikon urged the state government to urge the Centre to revoke the controversial act in entire Nagaland.

Replying to the question, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, who is also the in-charge of Home, stated: ‘We have been regularly informing the centre to keep Nagaland out of the purview of AFSPA. However, 18 out of 75 police stations in the state are still within AFSPA.’

The 18 police stations in the state which still come under the purview of the AFSPA are: Chiephobozou PS (Kohima district); Tseminyu PS (Tseminyu district); Wokha PS, Sanis PS, and Sungro PS under Wokha district; Mokokchung PS -II, Kubolong PS, and Changtongya PS under Mokokchung district; VK Town PS and Akuluto PS under Zunheboto district; Longleng PS and Tamlu PS under Longleng district; Tuensang PS, Longkhim PS, Noksen PS, and Sansungyu PS under Tuensang district; and Shamator PS and Chessore PS under Shamator district.

Patton also said that whether or not to lift AFSPA in Nagaland is with the Centre.

On Kikon’s query if there is any proposal to upgrade the Merapani Border Magistrate, the Home minister replied that a committee headed by the Commissioner of Nagaland will look into the creation of an SDO Civil post.

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