Shillong, Dec 9: The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) on Thursday organised mass protests across the Northeastern region, 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 security forces.
Student activists of Naga students Federation ( NSF) were out on the street of Nagaland protesting and burning effigies of Indian Army.
Sit-in-demonstration was held in Guwahati by AASU.
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.
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.
