The Ministry of Home Affairs extended the Armed Forces Special
Powers Act (AFSPA) in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six
months on Tuesday.
The government has issued two separate notifications, the decisions
have been taken after a review of the law-and-order situation in both States.
The first gazette notification reads that the Central Government in
the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special
Powers) Act, 1958 (28 of 1958) had declared 8 districts and 21 Police Stations
in 5 other districts of the State of Nagaland as ‘disturbed area’ for a period
of six months with effect from April 1, 2023.
“And whereas a further review of the law and order situation in the
State of Nagaland has been undertaken. Now, therefore, Dimapur, Niuland,
Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren districts in Nagaland and
the areas in Nagaland falling within the jurisdiction of i) Khuzama, Kohima North,
Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima District; ii)
Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki ‘C’ police
stations in Mokokchung District; iii) Yanglok police station in Longleng
District; iv) Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations in Wokha District;
and v) Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police
stations in Zunheboto District, 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with effect from October 1, 2023, unless withdrawn earlier,” the notification
read.
In another notification, the Central Government in the 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.
“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 SO1422(E) dated March 24,
2023. And whereas a further review of the law and order situation in the state
of Arunachal Pradesh has been undertaken,” the notification read.
“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 October 1, 2022, unless withdrawn earlier,” it added.
AFSPA gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed
areas”.
ANI
