Centre to reduce areas under AFSPA in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur

AFSPA act empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior warrant while giving a certain level of immunity to the security forces as well.

New Delhi:In a significant move, the government of India has decided to reduce the areas under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur after decades of disturbance, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday.

"In a significant step, GoI under the decisive leadership of PM Shri @NarendraModi Ji has decided to reduce disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the states of Nagaland, Assam and Manipur after decades," the Home Minister said in a series of tweets today.

Reduction in areas under AFSPA is a result of the improved security situation and fast-tracked development due to the consistent efforts and several agreements to end insurgency and bring lasting peace in North East by PM @narendramodi government. Thanks to PM @NarendraModi Ji’s unwavering commitment, our North-Eastern region, which was neglected for decades is now witnessing a new era of peace, prosperity and unprecedented development. I congratulate the people of North East on this momentous occassion," Shah said in his tweets.

Meanwhile, officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs clarified that the Centre's decision will considerably reduce areas under AFSPA with effect from April 1. However, the officials also made it clear that AFSPA has not been completely removed. Disturbed area notification is in force in the whole of Assam since 1990. With the step, the officials said, 23 districts of Assam are now being removed completely and one district partially from the effect of AFSPA with effect from April 1.

Areas under AFSPA to be reduced in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur

The Disturbed Area Declaration in the entire Manipur (except the Imphal Municipality area) is in operation since 2004. The MHA officials said 15 police station areas of six districts are being excluded from disturbed area notification with effect from April 1. As for Nagaland, the disturbed area notification is in force in the whole of state since 1995. The Central government has accepted the recommendation of the committee constituted in this regard to remove AFSPA in a phased manner. Disturbed area notification is being removed from 15 police stations in seven districts in Nagaland with effect from April 1, added the officials.

The disturbed area notification under AFSPA has been completely removed by the Modi government from Tripura in 2015 and Meghalaya in 2018 due to improvements in the security situation.

The AFSPA empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior warrant while giving a certain level of immunity to the security forces as well. In 2005, the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee had recommended the repeal of AFSPA and suggested an amendment to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 by inserting a new Chapter with respect to the North-Eastern states.