Maibam Sharat was the second in a group of six friends walking past a security checkpoint in Manipur when he witnessed a soldier shooting his friend Ranbir in the stomach. Despite being moved to a camp by the troops instead of receiving immediate medical attention, Ranbir ultimately succumbed to his injuries after taking seven bullets and losing too much blood. Sharat speculated that the soldiers may have been acting out of frustration and anger following an earlier attack by militants in the area. Human rights organizations and political parties claim that Ranbir's killing was just one example of the military's numerous abuses in Manipur, which have been carried out under the protection of the harsh federal anti-terror law known as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA. This law grants soldiers virtual immunity from legal action and has become a focal point as the state prepares to hold elections to choose a new legislature. Most political parties agree that AFSPA, which only applies to certain regions in India, should be either repealed or significantly modified. One legislator, Sovakiran Singh, has pledged to push for the repeal of AFSPA during the first session of the new legislature if his party comes into power. However, it is possible for New Delhi to override the state government and reinstate the law. Singh is hopeful that the government will address the concerns raised by Manipur, where 20,000 people have lost their lives in a separatist uprising since the 1960s. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) provides soldiers with extensive authority to conduct searches, arrests, and even killings of suspected insurgents without facing immediate danger. Soldiers can only be prosecuted with the approval of the central government, which is rarely granted. This law, enacted in 1958 to combat separatist violence in northeastern India, is said by the army to offer crucial protection from politically motivated accusations. However, human rights organizations argue that the powers granted by the AFSPA have created an environment where security forces are able to commit abuses without consequences, including torture, rape, and murder. "They say that this has only increased anger and led to more insurgents. Pradip Phanjoubam, editor of the Imphal Free Press daily, described AFSPA as a result of the state's extreme paranoia. A senior official from the Border Security Force, whose soldiers were part of the Nongpok Sekmai incident, claimed they were responding to militant gunfire. However, few people in the village believe this explanation. Manipur, located 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from New Delhi, is considered one of India's most troubled regions, yet it remains largely unnoticed by the nation." Soldiers have been present everywhere in the state, leading to multiple incidents of violence in the past five years where innocent people have been killed. Despite public outcry and protests, there has been a slight increase in extra-judicial killings, with 18 documented cases reported last year according to Babloo Loitongbam, director of Manipur's Human Rights Alert. Phanjoubam and Loitongbam believe that New Delhi should prioritize a political solution rather than a military one to address the insurgency in Manipur and bring development to the state. It remains uncertain whether political parties in the region will be able to generate enough pressure for significant change. The Congress party, which has been in power in Manipur since 2002, has been indecisive about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Sonia Gandhi, the party chief, reassured Manipuris that New Delhi is sincerely considering the recommendations of an expert panel that suggested changes to the law 18 months ago. However, many Manipuris are still doubtful about any actual change happening.