KOHIMA/ITANAGAR: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially announced the extension of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in specific regions of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, with the new extension set to take effect from October 1.
In a notification issued by the MHA, it was detailed that the AFSPA extension for another six months encompasses several districts and police station jurisdictions across Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
In Nagaland, the areas under AFSPA include Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren districts. It also encompasses the jurisdictions of Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza, and Kezocha police stations in the Kohima district, as well as police stations in Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha, Zunheboto, and Aghunato districts.
A separate notification confirms the extension of AFSPA for six more months in Arunachal Pradesh, specifically in Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts. It also applies to Namsai district's Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police station jurisdictions.
The AFSPA grants the Army and other Central paramilitary forces the authority to conduct raids, operations, and arrests without prior notice or the need for arrest warrants. It has been a subject of debate and contention, with concerns raised about human rights violations.
While the security situation in the Northeast has improved, the Central government took a significant step in April 2022 by reducing the areas classified as "disturbed" under AFSPA in many parts of Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur.
Over the years, the AFSPA has been lifted in various states, including Tripura in 2015, Meghalaya in 2018, and Mizoram in the 1980s. Nevertheless, demands for its complete repeal have grown among political parties, NGOs, and civil society organizations in the northeastern region.
These call for repeal gained momentum following a tragic incident in December 2021 when security forces in Mon district of Nagaland were involved in a case of "mistaken identity," resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals and injuries to 30 others.
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