NESO to carry out widespread protest against AFSPA across Northeast today

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• Dec 9, 2021 | moderator

Guwahati: Northeast India’s largest students’ body, the Northeast Students’ Organisation (NESO) will be carrying out mass protest across the Northeast parts of the country today, demanding the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

The protests have been called in the light of the December 4, Nagaland incident in which 14 civilians were killed including one soldier during an anti-insurgency operation by the insurgency operation by the security forces.

Also read: Nagaland Killings: Residents ban Indian Army personnel from entering Oting village

On Sunday, the organization issued a statement condemning the incident which resulted in the deaths of civilians in the Mon district of Nagaland.

"It is to be mentioned that the armed forces have been operating in NE with impunity and they are further emboldened with the imposition of a Draconian Law known as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 (AFSPA) in which the Government of India has not only refused to repeal but decided to continue the imposition of this draconian act even though there has been massive peoples movement for the repeal of this Act," a release by NESO said.

It may be noted that NESO represents eight student bodies from across the northeastern states, namely - Garo Students’ Union (GSU), All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Naga Students' Federation.