Guwahati: Following a review of the law and order situation in the two northeastern states, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been extended for another six months in several regions of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
The AFSPA has been extended in eight districts in Nagaland, three districts in Arunachal Pradesh, and specific areas falling under designated police jurisdictions.
An area or district is notified as a ‘disturbed area’ under the AFSPA to facilitate the operations of the armed forces. The AFSPA gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and to open fire if they deem it necessary for the “maintenance of public order”.
The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday issued a notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958, stating that the central government, after reviewing the security landscape, has re-declared these regions as ‘disturbed’ to facilitate the operations of the armed forces.
As per the notification, the districts and police stations areas have been declared as ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from October 1, 2024.
The districts and areas in question include eight in Nagaland namely Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren. Additionally, 21 police stations spread across five other districts in Nagaland have also been brought under this notification.
Police station areas within Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha, and Zunheboto districts have also been marked as ‘disturbed.’ This includes Kohima District’s Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza, and Kezocha police stations, along with others in neighboring districts.
In addition, Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations in Wokha District; and Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto District of Nagaland have also declared ‘disturbed’ under the AFSPA.
In Arunachal Pradesh, AFSPA remains in force for the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts, as well as the areas under Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations in Namsai District, bordering Assam. These areas have been notified as ‘disturbed’ for six more months, effective from October 1, 2024, unless revoked earlier.
The extension of AFSPA reflects ongoing concerns over security and the need for continued military presence in these northeastern regions.
There have been ongoing demands from various organizations and individuals in both Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern states to repeal the Act.
