The Act was enacted in 1958 and practically covered the entire region, especially Nagaland, which was carved out of undivided Assam. The Centre’s use of the heavy-handed AFSPA reflects its confused attitude towards handling administrative issues in the North-East. But there’s a disconcerting underbelly of violence and conflict, exacerbated by New Delhi’s long-established overbearing ways towards the states and their own internal problems caused by immigration from Bangladesh, intra-border disputes, ethnic and religious clashes, protracted insurgencies and the consequently heavy military presence which led to protests like the one in July 2004 when Manipur’s women hit the streets against the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA.
The mighty Brahmaputra, the flora, the hills and the religious, ethnic and linguistic profusion make for attractive visuals and a narrative of outward harmony in diversity. Picture the country’s North-East and the images the region conjures are two-toned.
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