The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months. This decision comes after a review of the law-and-order situation in both states.
In Nagaland, the government declared eight districts and 21 police stations in five other districts as “disturbed areas” for a period of six months, effective from April 1, 2023. A further review of the situation led to the extension of AFSPA in specific areas, including Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren districts.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts, along with areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district bordering Assam, were declared “disturbed areas” for six months, starting from October 1, 2022.
AFSPA grants the armed forces the authority to maintain public order in “disturbed areas” and provides them with special powers. The extension of AFSPA in these regions reflects ongoing security concerns and the government’s efforts to address them.
Critics of AFSPA argue that it gives the armed forces sweeping powers and has been associated with allegations of human rights abuses. On the other hand, proponents argue that it is necessary to tackle insurgency and maintain security in conflict-prone areas. The extension of AFSPA in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh is likely to continue generating debate on the balance between security measures and individual rights in these regions.
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