New Delhi, Dec 7 : Lok Sabha MP Agatha Sangma Today  urged the government to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from the Northeast, calling it a draconian law that failed to serve its purpose of checking insurgency.

Raising the issue in Lok Sabha, the National People’s Party MP from Tura, Meghalaya said instead the AFSPA has caused civilians to be “unfairly tortured, raped and killed”. The NPP is an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA.

“On December 4 an unfortunate and condemnable incident took place in the village of Oting, where about 14 civilians were killed by armed forces in a so-called security operation.

“This is not the first time an incident has taken place where innocent civilians had to bear the brunt of draconian laws like AFSPA.

“It also reminds us of an incident that took place in Manipur in 2000 in Imphal, which is also known as Malom massacre where over 10 civilians were shot dead and it prompted 28 years-old-Irom Sharmila to go on a 16 years long hunger strike,” Sangma said in the Lower House.

“Yesterday various party leaders spoke about it and condemned it… It is time the elephant in the room be addressed which is that AFSPA be repealed,” she said.

The comments came a day after Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio demanded for the repeal following the incident in Mon district of Nagaland, where the security operation went awry. Another civilian was killed in Mon city on Sunday during protests held against the incident.

“The reason why AFSPA was enacted in 1958 was to ensure insurgency is stopped in the Northeast, but it has not been able to do that.

“We can clearly see that insurgency has not reduced because of enactment AFSPA instead it has caused civilians to be unfairly tortured, raped and killed. Therefore, I take this opportunity on behalf of the people of Northeast that this act be repealed,” she said.

Questions on the AFSPA were raised in Lok Sabha on Monday as well, as members expressed concerns over the incident.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi demanded repealing the Act, while Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi said there was a need for checks and balances.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed for a fair probe into the incident by the state government.(UNI)