New Delhi: The Union Government on Tuesday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) to Meluri district in Nagaland for a six-month period, following a recent extension to several other areas in the state.
The extension comes two days after the law was imposed across eight districts and 21 police station areas in five other districts of Nagaland.
In a formal notification, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs stated that Meluri, which was created in November 2024 by carving out from Phek district, would now be classified as a ‘disturbed area.’
This decision follows the March 30 declaration of Phek district as a ‘disturbed area,’ along with the extension to seven other districts.
The notification further clarified that, starting April 1, 2025, Meluri would fall under the scope of AFSPA for a period of six months, unless it is revoked earlier.
AFSPA grants sweeping powers to the armed forces in ‘disturbed areas,’ allowing them to search, arrest, and even use lethal force without prosecution unless authorised by the Centre.
The law has been criticised for its controversial provisions, which provide immunity to the forces from legal accountability.
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The extension of AFSPA has also been implemented in other parts of Northeast India, including the entire state of Manipur (except for 13 police station areas) and additional districts in Arunachal Pradesh.
The decision comes after an assessment of the ongoing law and order situations in these regions.
