The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which allows for the designation of an area as ‘disturbed’ to facilitate security operations, has been extended for six more months in eight districts of Nagaland, three districts of Arunachal Pradesh and additional areas. This decision follows a review of the law and order situation in these northeastern states.
Under the AFSPA, armed forces operating in these designated disturbed areas are granted extensive powers to search, arrest, and, if deemed necessary, to use lethal force for maintaining public order.
In a recent notification, the Union Home Ministry stated that, under the authority of Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, eight districts and 21 police station areas across five other districts in Nagaland have been declared ‘disturbed’ for a six-month period starting April 1, 2024. A further assessment of the law and order situation in Nagaland has been conducted, resulting in the re-declaration of these districts and police station areas as ‘disturbed’ under the AFSPA, effective October 1, 2024, unless withdrawn sooner.
The districts in Nagaland affected by this reimposition include Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren. Additionally, the jurisdiction of several police stations in Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha, and Zunheboto districts has also been designated as ‘disturbed.’
In a separate announcement, the Home Ministry declared Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh, along with areas under the Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations, as ‘disturbed,’ effective April 1, 2024, following a law and order review.
The notification specifies that these areas in Arunachal Pradesh will remain classified as ‘disturbed’ for six months starting October 1, 2024, unless revoked earlier.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has previously indicated that AFSPA has been lifted in 70% of the northeastern states, although it remains in force in Jammu and Kashmir. Shah also mentioned that the central government would consider revoking AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir, responding to various calls from organisations and individuals in both Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern states for its repeal.
