Maibam Sharat was the second person in a group of six friends walking past a security checkpoint, following orders from Indian troops with their hands up in the air. Suddenly, a soldier emerged from an armored vehicle and began shooting. Sharat cannot recall how long the shooting lasted, but when it ceased, he discovered his friend Ranbir, who was in front of him, wounded in the stomach. The troops, present to combat separatist rebels in Manipur, did not immediately seek medical assistance for Ranbir. Eventually, they relented under local pressure and took him to a hospital, but it was too late - Ranbir had been shot seven times and had lost too much blood to survive. Sharat, a driver from Nongpok Semai, speculated that the troops may have been acting out of frustration and anger following an earlier attack by militants. Human rights organizations and political parties are condemning the killing of Ranbir as the latest in a series of abuses carried out by the military in the troubled region of Manipur. These abuses are shielded by the controversial federal anti-terror law known as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which grants soldiers immunity from prosecution. As Manipur's 2.6 million residents begin voting in a three-stage election to choose a new legislature, there is widespread agreement among political parties that the AFSPA should be either repealed or significantly amended. Sovakiran Singh, a legislator from the Heirok constituency where Nongpok Sekmai is located, has pledged to push for the repeal of the AFSPA if his party comes to power. However, there is a possibility that the central government in New Delhi could override the state government and reinstate the law. Singh is optimistic that the government will take action in response to the pressure coming from Manipur, where 20,000 people have lost their lives in a separatist uprising that began in the 1960s. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) grants soldiers extensive authority to search for, arrest, and even kill suspected militants without facing immediate danger. Soldiers can only be prosecuted with approval from the central government, which is rarely granted. This law was enacted in 1958 to combat separatist violence in northeast India, with the military arguing that it provides essential protection against politically motivated accusations. However, human rights organizations argue that the powers granted by AFSPA have created an environment where security forces can commit abuses with impunity, including torture, rape, and murder. According to Pradip Phanjoubam, editor of the Imphal Free Press daily, the creation of AFSPA has only increased anger and led to more insurgents. A Border Security Force official claimed that the soldiers were retaliating against militants in the Nongpok Sekmai shooting, but the villagers in Manipur do not believe him. Manipur, located 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from New Delhi, is one of India's most troubled regions but often overlooked by the nation. Soldiers can be found everywhere, with the state experiencing multiple incidents of violence in the past five years due to allegations of soldiers killing civilians. Despite public outrage and protests, there has been a slight increase in extra-judicial killings, with 18 documented cases last year according to Babloo Loitongbam, director of Manipur's Human Rights Alert. Phanjoubam and Loitongbam believe that New Delhi should focus on a political, rather than military, solution to address the insurgency in Manipur and bring development to the underdeveloped state. It is uncertain whether political parties will be able to effectively advocate for change in this regard. The Congress party, which has been in power in Manipur since 2002, has been indecisive about the AFSPA issue. Sonia Gandhi, the party chief, informed Manipuris that the government was thoroughly examining a report from an expert panel that suggested modifications to the law 18 months ago. However, many Manipuris are doubtful that any real change will occur.