Digital Desk: On Monday morning, around 100 people set out on foot for a two-day march from Supermarket in Dimapur to Kohima, seeking the urgent repeal of the AFSPA in Nagaland. Additionally, bikers also joined the march.
Many more people joined the march from various points along the 74-kilometer route, including a 60-kilometer stretch through the highlands.
The protesters will arrive in Kohima on Tuesday after a night halt on their journey to Piphema on Monday and will submit a memorandum to the Centre through Nagaland Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, urging the Act to be removed from the state with immediate effect.
The march was sparked by the deaths of 13 innocent civilians at Oting in a botched operation by the 21 Para Security Forces on December 4, 2021, and the death of another civilian in firing by the Assam Rifles the next day.
Reportedly, the organizers of the 'March against AFSPA' had previously asked the participants to listen and follow the authorities and refrain from using violence or destroying public property during the two-day march.
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They were also told not to exhibit their emotions, bully or harass military personnel on duty, or cause any disruption to any military convoy.
"This is a peaceful and nonviolent march. We will march silently till the conclusion." the organizers declared.
On Sunday, Dimapur deputy commissioner Rajesh Soundararajan approved the march on the condition that the participants should follow all covid-19 guidelines.
Moreover, the permit also holds the condition that all participants will have to be asymptomatic and fully vaccinated against the deadly virus.
According to the DC, any person who violates the conditions, including other existing orders, SOPs, and recommendations for limiting the spread of Covid-19, will be prosecuted under relevant sections of the law.
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