Maibam Sharat was walking in a group of six friends when Indian troops ordered them to raise their hands as they passed a security post. Suddenly, a soldier emerged from an armoured car and started shooting. Sharat's friend Ranbir was hit in the stomach, and despite pleas from locals, the troops initially took him to their camp instead of getting medical help. By the time they finally took him to the hospital, it was too late - Ranbir had been shot seven times and had lost too much blood. Sharat, a driver from Nongpok Semai, believes the soldiers may have been releasing their frustration and anger following an earlier attack by militants. Human rights organizations and political parties believe that Ranbir's killing is just one of many human rights abuses committed by the military in Manipur, where a draconian federal anti-terror law, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), provides soldiers with immunity from prosecution. This issue has come to the forefront as the state prepares to vote in a three-stage election to choose a new legislature. Most parties agree that the AFSPA, which only applies to certain regions in India's northeast and Kashmir, should be either repealed or significantly amended. 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 to repeal the AFSPA in the first session of the new legislature. However, the central government in New Delhi has the authority to override the state government and reinstate the law if they choose to do so. Singh is optimistic 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) grants soldiers extensive authority to search, detain, and eliminate suspected insurgents even in the absence of immediate danger. Soldiers can only be prosecuted with approval from the central government, which is seldom granted. This law, implemented in 1958 to combat separatist violence in northeast India, is said to provide essential protection for the army against politically motivated accusations. However, human rights organizations argue that the powers it bestows have created an environment where security forces are able to commit abuses without consequence, including torture, sexual assault, and murder. They say that this has only increased anger and led to more rebels. Pradip Phanjoubam, editor of the Imphal Free Press daily, stated that AFSPA is a result of the state's extreme paranoia. A senior official from the Border Security Force, whose soldiers were implicated in the Nongpok Sekmai incident, claimed the soldiers were responding to gunfire from militants. However, very few people in the village trust his explanation. Manipur, located 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from New Delhi, is considered one of India's most troubled regions, often overlooked by the nation. Soldiers can be found everywhere. Over the past five years, there have been multiple instances where the state has erupted in violence due to accusations of soldiers killing innocent individuals, leading to public outrage. Despite protests, there was a slight increase in extra-judicial killings last year, with 18 documented cases, according to Babloo Loitongbam, director of Manipur's Human Rights Alert. Phanjoubam and Loitongbam suggest that New Delhi should focus on a political rather than military solution to address the insurgency in Manipur and bring development to one of India's most underdeveloped states. However, it remains uncertain whether political parties in the region will be able to generate genuine pressure for change. The Congress party, currently in power in India and Manipur since 2002, has been indecisive about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Sonia Gandhi, the party chief, reassured Manipuris that the government is carefully considering a report from an expert panel that suggested amendments to the law 18 months ago. However, many Manipuris are doubtful that any significant changes will be made.