KOHIMA, APRIL 7 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has issued a condemnation of the Ministry of Home Affairs' recent decision to extend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in parts of Nagaland, calling the move a “blatant affront to the dignity, rights, and democratic aspirations of the Naga people.”
The condemnation follows a notification issued by the Ministry on March 30, which declared various districts and police station jurisdictions as “disturbed areas” for another six months beginning April 1, 2025.
“The continued designation of our ancestral land as a ‘disturbed area’ under AFSPA... is a blatant affront to the dignity, rights, and democratic aspirations of the Naga people,” the NSF stated in a press release dated April 7.
Calling the extension “an unjust and regressive move,” the Federation said it “disregards the realities on the ground.” It added that the Naga people have “time and again, demonstrated our desire for peace and political resolution through dialogue and non-violence,” while accusing the Government of India of continuing to “militarize our land and impose colonial-era laws.”
“AFSPA has inflicted untold pain, trauma, and fear in the hearts of countless Naga families,” the NSF said, listing “extra-judicial killings, unlawful detentions, harassment, and the erosion of civil liberties” as part of the Act’s legacy.
The Federation warned that the move “is not only an insult to the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue but also a deliberate provocation against our people’s collective call for peace and justice.”
Reiterating its longstanding demand, the NSF said: “The NSF reiterates our longstanding demand for the immediate and complete repeal of AFSPA from the Naga homeland. The Federation affirms that no true peace can prevail where laws of occupation and militarization continue to exist.”
The organization also announced a strict enforcement of its “standing policy of total non-cooperation with the Indian armed forces,” and called upon its Federating Units and subordinate bodies to comply.
“Until AFSPA is repealed in toto, we urge every Naga student body to abstain from participating in any joint programs, civic action initiatives, or ceremonial events involving armed forces personnel,” the NSF stated. “Compliance with this policy is not just a protest, but a moral and political obligation to uphold the rights and future of our people.”
The statement was jointly issued by NSF President Medovi Rhi and Assistant General Secretary Kenilo Kent.
