AFSPA Extended In 8 Districts of Nagaland and 3 Districts of Arunachal and a Few Areas of Namsai For 6 Months

An area or district is notified as a disturbed area under the AFSPA to facilitate the operations of the armed forces.

The Union Home Minister has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, under which an area is declared as “disturbed”, in eight districts in Nagaland, three districts in Arunachal Pradesh, and some other areas of Namsai for six more months after a review of the law and order situation in the two northeastern states.

In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said, “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 eight districts, and 21 police stations in five other districts of Nagaland as ‘disturbed area’ for six months with effect from April 1, 2024.”

The home ministry said a further review of the law and order situation in Nagaland has been undertaken.

The districts and police stations areas have been declared as ‘disturbed areas’ again under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for six months with effect from October 1, 2024, unless withdrawn earlier, the notification issued on Wednesday night said.

The districts in Nagaland where the AFSPA was reimposed are Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren.

The areas in Nagaland falling 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 are also declared ‘disturbed’.

In addition, Bhandari, Champang, and Ralan police stations in Wokha District; and Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto, and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto District of Nagaland are also declared ‘disturbed’ under the AFSPA.

In a separate notification, the home ministry said under the AFSPA, the central government had declared 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 Assam as ‘disturbed area’ with effect from April 1, 2024.

A further review of the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh has been undertaken, it said.
An area or district is notified as a disturbed area under the AFSPA to facilitate the operations of the armed forces. The AFSPA gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest, and open fire if they deem it necessary for the “maintenance of public order”.

Also read: NESO Demands Repeal of AFSPA in NE, Urges Centre to Prosecute 21 Para (SF) Personnel Involved in Oting Incident

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