The Government of India on reduced the “disturbed areas” under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the States of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. All changes will be effective April 1.
- Nagaland: The AFSPA is being removed from the jurisdiction of 15 police stations in seven districts. The Disturbed Area Notification is in force in the whole of Nagaland from 1995.
- Assam: The AFSPA is being removed completely from 23 districts and one district will be covered partially under the Act.
- Manipur: 15 police station areas of 6 districts of Manipur will be excluded from the Disturbed Area Notification.
About AFSPA
- The AFSPA first came into effect in 1958 to deal with the uprising in the Naga Hills, followed by insurgency in Assam.
- It gives unbridled power to the armed forces and the Central Armed Police Forces deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant and protection from prosecution and legal suits without the Central government’s sanction.
- The Union Home Ministry issues periodic “disturbed area” notification to extend the AFSPA only for Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, where it is applicable in the districts of Tirap, Changlang, Longding and areas falling under Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations bordering Assam.
- The notification for Manipur and Assam is issued by the State governments.
- Tripura revoked AFSPA in 2015 and Meghalaya was under the AFSPA for 27 years, until it was revoked by the Home Ministry from April 1, 2018.
- The Act was implemented in a 20-km area along the border with Assam.
- Jammu and Kashmir has a separate J&K Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1990.
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