Govt declares Assam as ‘disturbed’ under AFSPA for 3 months

The Centre has declared the entire Assam as a “disturbed” area under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act — the AFSPA — for three more months. It has cited various violent activities by insurgent groups ULFA, NDFB and others as reasons for the decision.

In a gazette notification, the home ministry said the entire Assam, besides bordering areas of Meghalaya, have been declared “disturbed” under the AFSPA for three months with effect from May 3.

The ministry said there were 75 incidents of violence in Assam in 2016 in which 33 people, including four security personnel, were killed and 14 others were abducted.

Besides, there were nine violent incidents in the state in which four people, including two security personnel, were killed in 2017.

The violence were perpetrated by insurgent groups like ULFA, NDFB and others, the ministry said.

The AFSPA has been continuing in Assam since November 1990.

In another gazette notification, the ministry declared three districts of Arunachal Pradesh — Tirap, Changlang and Longding — besides areas falling under 16 police stations bordering Assam as “disturbed” area under the AFSPA for three more months.

The home ministry cited the continuing violence perpetrated by NSCN(IM), NSCN(K), ULFA, NDFB and others as the reason for enforcing the AFSPA for three months beyond May 4.

The AFSPA has been under force in the three Arunachal Pradesh districts since January 2016.

Two IISCO steel plant workers in Bengal’s Burnpur were killed and seven injured when molten metal fell on them early on Saturday morning.

The four who are critically injured have been admitted to a private hospital.

Three were discharged after preliminary treatment. Sanwar Sheikh, 29, and Asish Sikka, 30, were killed at the spot when the metal fell on them from a height of about 60 feet. The crucible in which the metal was being transported in the shop floor tilted and fell on them while they were working below. “We have instituted an inquiry to find out how the disaster happened and how such accidents could be avoided. We will not compromise on safety issues,” a spokesperson of SAIL that owns the steel plant told the media.

Iron melts at around 1,600 degrees Celsius and there was no opportunity to save Sheikh and Sikka.