Rakesh Garhwal

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)  Background: At least 13 civilians including a soldier lost their lives during open firing by security troops between Oting and Tiru villages in Nagaland's Mon district on December 4, 2021. The Special Forces in that area were reportedly tipped off by the intelligence agencies about the movement of some terrorists of the NSCN (KY) and ULFA.   History of Nagaland Insurgency: The British annexed Assam in 1826, and in 1881, the Naga Hills too became part of British India. In 1946 Naga National Council (NNC) was formed under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo. It declared Nagaland “an independent state” on August 14, 1947. On March 22, 1952, Phizo formed the underground Naga Federal Government (NFG) and the Naga Federal Army (NFA). The Government of India sent in the Army to deal with insurgency and, in 1958, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was enacted. The Naga Hills, a district of Assam, was upgraded to a Nagaland state in 1963. On No...