New Delhi: The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which allows an area to be declared “disturbed” for the ease of security operations, has been extended for six more months in eight districts of Nagaland, three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, and certain other areas following a review of the law and order situation in these northeastern states.
A notification is issued to designate an area or district as “disturbed” under the AFSPA, enabling armed forces to conduct operations more effectively.
The AFSPA grants the military significant authority in disturbed areas to conduct searches, make arrests, and use force if considered necessary for maintaining public order.
According to a notification from the Union Home Ministry, the central government has, by exercising the powers granted by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, declared eight districts and 21 police stations across five other districts of Nagaland as ‘disturbed areas’ for six months starting April 1, 2024.
The ministry has conducted a subsequent review of Nagaland’s law and order situation.
These districts and police station areas have been re-notified as ‘disturbed areas’ under Section 3 of the AFSPA for another six months, effective from October 1, 2024, subject to earlier withdrawal, as stated in the notification released on Wednesday night.
The districts in Nagaland where the AFSPA has been reinstated include Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren.
Additionally, the areas under the jurisdiction of Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza, and Kezocha police stations in Kohima District; Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem, and Anaki ‘C’ police stations in Mokokchung District; and Yanglok police station in Longleng District have also been declared ‘disturbed’.
Additionally, the Bhandari, Champang, and Ralan police stations in Wokha District, as well as the Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto, and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto District of Nagaland, have been declared ‘disturbed’ under the AFSPA.
The Home Ministry, in a separate notification, has stated that under the AFSPA, the central government has declared Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh, along with areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district, bordering Assam, as ‘disturbed areas’ effective from April 1, 2024.
Following a review of the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh, it has been announced that these regions will continue to be designated as ‘disturbed areas’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for six months starting from October 1, 2024, unless rescinded sooner.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah previously mentioned that the AFSPA has been lifted in 70% of areas in the northeastern states, although it remains active in Jammu and Kashmir. Shah also noted that the central government is considering the revocation of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir, amidst calls from various organizations and individuals in Jammu Kashmir and the northeastern states for its repeal.
