AFSPA extended in 3 Arunachal districts
Centre on Monday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh and eight police station areas bordering Assam by another six months.
According to a notification issued by the ministry of home affairs, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh and eight police stations bordering Assam were declared “disturbed” areas under the AFSPA, 1958. The Act gives special rights and immunity to security forces in carrying out various operations in “disturbed” areas.
It gives security personnel the power to search premises and arrest without warrant, to use force even to the extent of causing death. “And whereas a further review of the law and order situation in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh and in the area falling within the jurisdiction of eleven police stations in districts of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam, has been undertaken. “Now, therefore, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of the following eight police stations in the districts of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam, are declared as disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 up to September 30, 2018 w.e.f. April 1, 2018, unless withdrawn earlier,” the notification said.
The eight police stations are — Balemu and Bhalukpong in West Kameng district, Seijosa in East Kameng district, Balijan in Papumpare district, Namsai and Mahadevpur in Namsai district, Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district and Sunpura in Lohit district. A home ministry official said AFSPA was extended due to various violent activities by insurgent groups NSCN, ULFA, NDFB, and others.