Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been withdrawn from the Dibrugarh district.
With this change, the law is now in effect in only three districts of the state.
Speaking at a press conference, Sarma explained that the decision to remove AFSPA from Dibrugarh came after a request to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to revoke the “disturbed area” status.
The state government plans to develop Dibrugarh as the second capital of Assam, which was a key factor in the request. Sarma confirmed that the Centre has issued a notification to this effect.
“AFSPA will now be in force only in the districts of Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Charaideo,” the chief minister said.
“We have successfully managed to withdraw AFSPA from 32 districts, and we are hopeful that it will soon be lifted from the remaining three as well.”
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The AFSPA was first imposed in Assam on November 27-28, 1990, following violence from the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).
Since then, the law has been extended every six months based on recommendations from the state government.
However, since Sarma took office in 2021, there has been a gradual withdrawal of AFSPA across the state.
