HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, May 16: Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha, an organisation of indigenous tribes in Assam, voiced concern over alleged indiscriminate killings of innocent citizens by Armed Forces and police under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 in the north-eastern states and had intimated their concern to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in 2021 and 2022. The secretary-general of the Mahasangha, Motiur Rahman, through an e-mail recently thanked the UN organisation for its statement in the 21st session in New York on May 6, “it remains concerned about continuing human rights violations, including arbitrary killings and extra-judicial executions, throughout north-eastern India. It echoes the call of indigenous people (Scheduled Tribes) of the region and urges India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958, investigate alleged human rights abuses in the region and hold those responsible to account (Cl 8)”.
Matiur Rahman, through a release here on Saturday, urged the government of India to withdraw the AFSPA, 1958 completely rather than partial withdrawal. Dr Hemanta Gogoi, president of Simaluguri regional committee of the Mahasangha was also present in the meeting.
