AFSPA extended for 6 month in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland districts

New Delhi: The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, under which an area is declared as “disturbed” for the convenience of security forces, has been extended 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.

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”.

An area or district is notified as a disturbed area under the AFSPA to facilitate the operations of the armed forces.

AFSPA has been extended in Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren districts in Nagaland. Areas falling within the jurisdiction of 20 police stations in Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha, Zunheboto districts have also been declared as “disturbed areas” under Section 3 of AFSPA.

Notably, the move to extend the AFSPA in parts of Nagaland came just a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Centre would contemplate revoking the same in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We have plans to pull back troops and leave law and order to the Jammu and Kashmir Police alone. Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir police was not trusted, but today they are leading the operations,” he said in an interview.

Shah also said the assembly elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir before September, 2024.

The AFSPA gives armed forces personnel, operating in disturbed areas, sweeping powers to search, arrest, and open fire if they deem it necessary for “the maintenance of public order”.

An area or district is notified as a disturbed area under the AFSPA to facilitate the operations of the armed forces