New Delhi: In another case of “mistaken identity”, an Assam Rifles jawan (personnel) opened fire in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district injuring two youngsters on Friday, April 1 evening. The particular district is covered under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA.
Incidentally, the latest incident comes two days after the Union home ministry issued a notification to withdraw AFSPA in parts of the Northeast. Except for large parts of Assam, most of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh continue to be under AFSPA.
The latest incident also brings back the chilling memories of the December 2021 incident where security forces opened fire in Nagaland’s Oting village in a case of “mistaken identity”, claiming over 15 lives. In the aftermath of the Oting incident, a debate has emerged over the enforcement of such a draconian law, and the impunity it grants to security forces.
As per local reports with regard to the latest incident, two young men belonging to Tirap district’s Sasa village were injured after an Assam Rifles jawan opened fire at them. According to Guwahati-based Pratidin Time, “The Assam Rifles jawan opened fire at the youths suspecting that they were terrorists. The youths were returning home after they went fishing.”
The report said a senior rank officer of the Assam Rifles “accepted that the incident took place for [due to] their mistake” and took responsibility for treating the injured. They are currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital but “the Assam Rifles assured that the youths will be airlifted to Jorhat [in Assam] for advanced treatment”.
Also read: The Withdrawal of AFSPA in Parts of Northeast Changes Little on the Ground
The incident took place a day after Union home minister Amit Shah tweeted about his government’s decision to bring down the number of areas under AFSPA, claiming development efforts and peace agreements initiated by the Narendra Modi government as reasons behind the announcement.
Reduction in areas under AFSPA is a result of the improved security situation and fast-tracked development due to the consistent efforts and several agreements to end insurgency and bring lasting peace in North East by PM @narendramodi government.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 31, 2022
As per the Union home ministry’s notification issued on March 31, the implementation of AFSPA has been extended for a period of another six months (April 1 to September 30) in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, including in Tirap district where the incident took place. The March 31 notification came after a government-appointed committee reviewed the security situation in the Northeast following the Oting incident.
AFSPA empowers security personnel to carry out any operations, including opening fire at anyone in case of suspicion of wrongdoing and carrying out arrests without a warrant.
Note: This is a developing story. It will be updated as soon as new information trickles in.