Maibam Sharat was walking with five friends past a security post in Manipur when Indian troops ordered them to put their hands up. Suddenly, a soldier emerged from an armoured car and started shooting. Sharat's friend Ranbir, who was ahead of him, was shot in the stomach. The troops, who were fighting separatist militants, took Ranbir to their camp instead of seeking medical help. Eventually, they took him to the hospital, but it was too late - Ranbir had been shot seven times and had lost too much blood. Sharat believes the soldiers may have been acting out of frustration and anger after their colleagues were attacked by militants earlier that evening. Human rights groups and political parties are condemning the killing of Ranbir as another example of military abuses in Manipur, where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act provides soldiers with immunity from prosecution. The state is currently in the midst of a three-stage election, with most parties agreeing that the AFSPA should either be repealed or significantly amended. There is concern that New Delhi could intervene and reinstate the law, despite promises from some legislators to repeal it in the new legislature. Singh is hopeful that the government will take into account the pressure coming from Manipur, where 20,000 people have lost their lives in a separatist uprising since the 1960s. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) grants soldiers extensive authority to conduct searches, make arrests, and eliminate suspected militants, even in the absence of immediate danger. Soldiers can only be prosecuted with approval from the central government, which is seldom granted. This law, enacted in 1958 to combat armed separatist movements in northeast India, is defended by the military as providing essential protection against politically motivated accusations. However, human rights organizations argue that these powers have created an environment where security forces can commit abuses without consequences, such as torture, sexual assault, and homicide. According to Pradip Phanjoubam, editor of the Imphal Free Press, the imposition of AFSPA has only increased anger and led to more insurgents in the region. A Border Security Force official claimed that soldiers were responding to militant fire in the Nongpok Sekmai shooting, but residents of the hamlet do not believe him. Manipur, located 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from New Delhi, remains one of India's most troubled regions, often overlooked by the rest of the nation. Soldiers have been involved in multiple incidents of violence in the state over the past five years, leading to protests by angry citizens. Despite these protests, there was a slight increase in extra-judicial killings last year, according to Babloo Loitongbam, director of Manipur's Human Rights Alert. Phanjoubam and Loitongbam argue that a political, rather than military, solution is needed to address the insurgency in Manipur and bring development to the state. It remains uncertain whether political parties will be able to effectively pressure for change. The ruling Congress party in India, which has held power in Manipur since 2002, has been indecisive about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Sonia Gandhi, the party chief, informed Manipuris that the government is thoroughly reviewing the recommendations of an expert panel that suggested modifications to the law 18 months ago. However, there is still doubt among many Manipuris about the possibility of actual change.