The Central Government has now declared its intention to expand the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in eight districts of Nagaland and three of Arunachal Pradesh because of a review of the law-and-order situation in both states. The official declaration of an area or district as a ‘Disturbed Area’ under the AFSPA empowers the armed forces for search, arrest, and shooting if required in order to maintain law and order in the country.
In its notification, which was released on Wednesday evening, the Union Home Ministry stated that the government of India has declared eight districts and twenty-one police station areas in five additional districts of Nagaland as ‘Disturbed Area’ under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 for a period of six months from Ist April[April 1st], 2024.
It also informs that the Home Ministry has carried out a fresh assessment of the law-and-order scenario in Nagaland, following which seven of the districts it covers have again been declared disturbed. That means the areas will continue to be designated as ‘disturbed’ under Section 3 of the AFSPA for another six months from October 1, 2024, unless the provisions are withdrawn earlier.
The eight districts in Nagaland where AFSPA has been re-imposed are Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren. Besides, in another notification, the Home Ministry has declared districts of Tirap, Changlang, and Longding in Arunachal Pradesh and areas under Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham Police Stations in Namsai district bordering Assam as ‘disturbed areas’ from April 1, 2024. This decision is in concordance with the government’s constant endeavor to contain security issues in this region, respecting public order and civic liberties.
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