Kohima:  Nagaland ends Hornbill festival to protest the death of civilians 

Kohima : Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s cabinet on Tuesday decided to call off the Hornbill festival as a protest against the death of 14 civilians in military action.

Official sources said the state government has also decided to write a letter to the Center seeking repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. The 10-day Hornbill Festival, the state’s largest tourism-based entertainment event, was held at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, near the capital. The festival was to end on December 10.

The state government on Monday canceled the program for that day at the venue. Several tribes from East Nagaland and other parts of the state suspended all activities over the deaths of civilians in Mon district. Rio on Monday supported the demands for the repeal of the AFSPA by attending the funeral of 14 civilians in the city of Mon. The law gives special powers to security forces in “disturbed areas”.