Centre Extends AFSPA In Parts Of Nagaland, Arunachal

KOHIMA: The "disturbed area" designation granted by the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, to portions of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland was extended by the Union home ministry on Friday for a period of six months.

The decisions were made after a study of the law-and-order situation in both jurisdictions, according to two separate notices.

Armed forces personnel operating in unrest zones are given broad rights under the AFSPA to search, detain, and fire if they judge it necessary for the "maintenance of public order."

“And whereas a further review of the law and order situation in the state of Arunachal Pradesh has been undertaken. 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3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2023, unless withdrawn earlier,” one of the notifications said.

According to the home ministry, the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh, as well as the areas under the control of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam, were declared "disturbed areas" on September 30, 2022, by the central government acting under the authority granted by Section 3 of the AFSPA 1958 (28 of 1958).

Via the new notification, one additional police station area has been added to the AFSPA's scope.

In the other notification, the home ministry stated that the central government had declared nine districts and 16 police stations in four other districts of Nagaland as "disturbed areas" for a period of six months beginning on October 1, 2022, in accordance with the authority granted by Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958 (28 of 1958).

It stated that, as of right now, 21 police station areas coming under five other districts as well as eight districts will be subject to the disturbed area designation.

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