The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in three districts and the areas falling under the jurisdictions of three police stations in another district of Arunachal Pradesh for six months with effect from April 1.
The districts of the northeastern state are Tirap, Changlang and Longding.
A notification by the MHA read, “The Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (28 of 1958) had declared the Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the State of Assam as ‘disturbed area’ vide Notification S.O.4231(E) dated 26.09.2023.”
“And whereas a further review of the law and order situation in the state of Arunachal Pradesh has been undertaken,” it added.
“Now, therefore, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the State of Assam, are declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from 01.04.2024, unless withdrawn earlier,” the notification read.
The controversial AFSPA gives armed forces, operating in the “disturbed areas”, sweeping powers to arrest, search and to open fire, if they find it necessary for maintaining law and order.
Human rights and civil society organisations have been asking for its repeal for decades now.
