The Nagaland cabinet on Tuesday decided to formally move the Centre to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, besides calling off the ongoing Hornbill Festival to express solidarity with those affected by the botched counter-insurgency operation in Mon district that left 14 civilians dead during the weekend.

H. Khehovi Yepthomi, the Nagaland government’s adviser (tourism, art and culture), told The Telegraph that the “extraordinary decisions” were taken because of the
“extraordinary situation” triggered by the killings of “unarmed and innocent civilians” by the security personnel.

“The twin decisions were taken at a cabinet meeting this morning. We want the repeal of AFSPA because we Nagas want peace. We also decided to cancel the Hornbill Festival, a globally recognised annual event, to mourn with our affected brothers from Mon,” Khehovi, also an MLA, said.

“How can we feast and enjoy, having lost our near and dear ones? The Centre should understand the mentality and sentiments of our Naga people and take a favourable decision on AFSPA, which should be repealed,” Khehovi added.

Sources said the clamour was rising for the repeal of AFSPA, which gives sweeping powers to armed forces operating in disturbed areas to search, arrest and shoot to maintain order.

A report drawn up by two senior state government officials has concluded that the six labourers who were slain in the first burst on Saturday evening were unarmed and were killed by the security forces near Oting village at “random, apparently without any attempt” at identification.

The report said the villagers who rushed to the spot on hearing gunshots found that “Special Forces personnel were trying to hide the bodies of the six villagers by wrapping and loading them in another pickup truck, apparently with the intention of taking the dead bodies to the base camp”.

It said the security forces were reportedly from the 21 Para Special Force based in neighbouring Assam.

The cabinet decision comes a day after Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, whose Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) is part of the BJP-led NDA, called for the repeal of the “draconian” law during a funeral service held in Mon town.

On Tuesday, state government spokesperson and minister Neiba Kronu said: “The cabinet has decided to write to the government of India to immediately repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, from the state. The cabinet has also decided to support the demand of the Konyak Union, the apex body of the Konyak tribe, to the President of India.”

The Mon-headquartered Konyak Union has sought the immediate repeal of the AFSPA from the entire Northeast and the removal of 27 Assam Rifles from Mon district for failing to “give security to its citizens” as military forces from another state had “intruded and committed” the massacre in Nagaland.

The army has “deeply regretted” the incident in Mon district and ordered a Court of Inquiry. A security member was also killed in Saturday’s operation, which, the army claimed, was conducted based on “credible intelligence” about likely militant movement in the area close to the Assam border.
AFSPA, which was extended in Nagaland for six months from June 30, is also in force in Assam, Manipur (barring the Imphal municipal area) and three Arunachal Pradesh districts and eight police stations bordering Assam.

On the decision to cease all activities at the Hornbill Festival, Kronu said the cabinet decided to “appeal” to all elected representatives, government employees and others to support entrepreneurs who have set up stalls at the venue by “actively purchasing” the items sold by them.

The 10-day annual festival, which got under way on December 1, is a popular event showcasing Naga culture and tradition, attracting heavy footfall from within and outside India.

Food stalls and stalls run by artisans and craftsmen will continue to remain open till December 10.

“To the travellers and tourists here with us during this time of sorrow, we deeply regret the unforeseen inconveniences caused to you by this tragedy. We only hope that through this experience, you will share in our grief and come to understand our story,” Nagaland Tourism tweeted.