Our Reporter
Dimapur, April 7 (EMN): The security situation in the Northeastern states has improved substantially, with the year 2020 reporting the lowest number of insurgency incidents during the last two decades, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The states of Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura remained by and large peaceful while there was a marked improvement in security situation in other states of the region since 2014, the MHA stated.
“Compared to 2014, there has been 75% reduction in insurgency incidents in 2021. Similarly, in this period, Security Forces casualties have come down by 75% and civilian deaths by 89%”, the MHA report maintained.
According to the data provided by the MHA, the Northeast region reported 209 incidents with Manipur reporting the highest number with 112 incidents followed by Nagaland with 47 incidents in 2021.
The number of extremists killed was 40, extremists arrested 686, eight security forces and 23 civilians reported to have been killed, 1,473 extremists surrendered, 471 arms surrendered, 367 arms recovered and 94 persons kidnapped; out of which the highest number was reported in Nagaland with 54 persons reported kidnapped followed by Manipur with 15 persons kidnapped.
As per the MHA data, in 2020 Nagaland reported 23 incidents where two extremists were killed, 222 extremists arrested, security forces and civilians killed were nil, four extremists surrendered, arms surrendered was nil, 84 arms recovered and 33 persons kidnapped.
However as per the data, 2021 reported an increase in cases compared to 2020.
In 2021, 47 incidents were reported while one extremists was killed, 277 extremists were reported to be arrested while the security forces and civilians killed were nil contradicting the Dec. 4 2021 Oting incident where 14 civilians was killed.
Eight extremists were reported to have surrendered, arms surrendered was nil, 103 arms recovered and 54 persons kidnapped.
The MHA in its notification on April 1 2022 had announced that Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Zunheboto districts in Nagaland and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of i) Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima district; ii) Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki ‘C’ police stations in Mokokchung district; iii) Yanglok police station in Longleng district; and iv) Bhandari, Champang, Ralan and Sungro police stations in Wokha district, were declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1,2022, unless withdrawn earlier. This announcement came a day after the MHA had reduced disturbed areas under AFSPA in the state.