AFSPA is extended in Arunachal, Nagaland
Act to be in force for 6 month in 3 Arunachal, 8 Nagaland districts
The central government has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, eight districts of Nagaland and some other areas for six more months after a review of the law and order situation in these two northeastern states.
According to the Union home ministry notification issued on March 27, it said, “And whereas a further review of the law and order situation in the state of Arunachal Pradesh has been undertaken. Now, therefore, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the State of Assam, are declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from 01.04.2024, unless withdrawn earlier.”
The notification also said that that the Union government in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 had declared the Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Assam as “disturbed area” on September 26, 2023.
Under the AFSPA, an area is declared as “disturbed” for the convenience of security forces and it gives armed forces personnel, operating in disturbed areas, sweeping powers to search, arrest and to open fire if they deem it necessary for “the maintenance of public order”.
In a separate notification, the home ministry also said that the central government in exercise of the powers conferred by AFSPA had declared eight districts and 21 police stations in five other districts of Nagaland as ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from October 1, 2023. The ministry also said a further review of the law-and-order situation in Nagaland has been undertaken and after that a decision has been taken to declare it as ‘disturbed area’ under the AFSPA for six more months in eight districts of the state and areas falling under 21 police stations.
The districts where the imposition of ‘disturbed area’ under the AFSPA will continue are Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren districts.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier said the AFSPA has been removed in 70 per cent areas in the northeastern states even though it is in force in Jammu and Kashmir.
● THE AFSPA gives armed forces personnel, operating in disturbed areas, sweeping powers to search, arrest and to open fire if they deem it necessary for “the maintenance of public order”.
● AMIT SHAH had said the government would consider revoking AFSPA in J&K. There have been demands from various organisations and individuals in Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern states to revoke the AFSPA.