The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months, beginning October 1.
The AFSPA has been extended in whole of eight districts and in the areas of 21 police stations in five other districts of Nagaland for another six months, The Hindu report quoting official notification said.
The eight districts in Nagaland where the AFSPA will be in force are: Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren, the report mentioned.
The areas fall within the jurisdiction of Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima district; Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki ‘C’ police stations in Mokokchung district; Yanglok police station in Longleng district; Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations in Wokha district; and Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto district, the report said.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the districts of Tirap, Changlang and Longding and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district along the Assam border were declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958 for a period of six months from October 1, “unless withdrawn earlier,”according to the report.
The notification is an extension of an earlier order issued in March.
On April 1, 2022, the MHA had considerably reduced “disturbed areas” in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.
What is AFSPA?
AFSPA gives impunity to the security forces armed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant and protection from prosecution and legal suits without the Central government’s sanction.
