Maibam Sharat was the second person in a group of six friends walking past a security post in Manipur when Indian troops ordered them to raise their hands. Suddenly, a soldier emerged from an armoured car and started shooting. The shooting lasted for an unknown amount of time, and when it stopped, Sharat found his friend Ranbir wounded in the stomach. Instead of seeking immediate medical help, the troops took Ranbir to their camp. After pressure from locals, they finally took him to the hospital, but it was too late - Ranbir had sustained seven gunshot wounds and had lost too much blood. Sharat believes the troops may have been taking out their frustration and anger after being attacked by militants earlier that evening. Human rights groups and political parties are denouncing the killing of Ranbir as just the latest in a series of abuses carried out by the military in Manipur, which has been plagued by insurgency. These abuses have been committed under the protection of a harsh anti-terror law known as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which grants soldiers immunity from prosecution. As Manipur prepares to vote for a new legislature in a three-stage poll, many parties are calling for the repeal or significant amendment of the AFSPA. Sovakiran Singh, a legislator representing the Heirok constituency where Nongpok Sekmai is located, has stated that if his party comes to power, they will work towards repealing the AFSPA in the first session of the new legislature. Despite this, there is a possibility that the central government in New Delhi could override the state government and reinstate the law. Singh is hopeful that the government will respond to the pressure from Manipur, where 20,000 people have died in a separatist rebellion since the 1960s. The AFSPA grants troops expansive powers to search, arrest, and kill suspected militants, even without an imminent threat. Troops can only be prosecuted with permission from the central government, which is rare. Introduced in 1958 to combat armed separatist militancy in northeast India, the law is said to provide vital protection for the army from politically motivated charges. However, rights groups argue that the powers granted by the 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 few in the hamlet believe this explanation. Manipur, located 1,500 miles away from New Delhi, is considered one of India's most troubled regions, yet it remains largely overlooked by the nation. Soldiers have been present in various areas, leading to unrest due to accusations of killing innocent people. In the past five years, the state has experienced multiple incidents of violence. Despite public outcry, there has been a slight increase in extra-judicial killings, with 18 reported 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 improve the state's development. However, it is uncertain whether political parties will be able to effectively advocate for change. The Congress party, which has been in power in Manipur since 2002, has been indecisive regarding AFSPA. Sonia Gandhi, the party chief, recently assured Manipuris that the government is examining a report from an expert panel that suggested changes to the law 18 months ago. However, many Manipuris are still doubtful about any real change happening.