Centre extends AFSPA in parts of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh
PTC News Desk: Following a review of the two northeastern states' law-and-order situation, the Centre has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) to eight districts in Nagaland and three in Arunachal Pradesh.
The AFSPA designated an area or district as a disturbed area in order to assist armed forces operations.
The AFSPA gives armed troops deployed to troubled areas broad authority to search, arrest, and open fire if they believe it is necessary for the "maintenance of public order".
According to the Centre's notification, the central government, in the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (28 of 1958), had declared eight districts and 21 police stations in five other districts of Nagaland as a 'disturbed area' for a period of six months beginning April 1, 2024.
The home ministry stated that a fresh review of the law and order situation in Nagaland had been conducted.
The districts and police stations have been declared 'disturbed regions' again under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, for a six-month term beginning October 1, 2024, unless withdrawn earlier, according to a notification released on Wednesday night.
The districts in Nagaland where the AFSPA was reinstated include Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren.
In a separate notification, the home ministry stated that under the AFSPA, the central government has declared Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh, as well as the areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Assam, as 'disturbed areas' beginning April 1, 2024.
“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3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from October 1, 2024 unless withdrawn earlier."
- PTC NEWS
