New Delhi: The Assam government extended the contentious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in the state for six more months. The notification came into effect from February 28.
AFSPA, which gives sweeping powers to the security forces to maintain public order in 'disturbed areas', has been a contentious issue in the north-east states. Civil society members and activists have claimed that AFSPA gives security personnel a free hand to carry out excesses.
"After reviewing the law and order situation in Assam in the past six months, the state government has declared the entire State of Assam as 'Disturbed Area' up to 6 (six) months with effect from 28/02/2022, unless withdrawn earlier," a government statement said, PTI reported.
The Assam administration last renewed the state's "Disturbed Area" status for another six months on August 28 last year.
AFSPA was imposed in Assam in November 1990 and has been extended every six months since then after a review by the government.
In January, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Army was virtually withdrawn from Assam, except for five-six districts. He had also said that when AFSPA would come up for renewal, the state government would take "some pragmatic decision".
"As far as AFSPA is concerned, Assam will see some rationalising in 2022...how and when we don't know. But I am an optimistic man. We are looking at 2022 as a year of hope. There will be some positive moments regarding AFSPA," PTI quoted Sarma as saying.
A renewed and determined call to withdraw the Act has gained momentum following the outrage over the December 4 incident in Mon district of Nagland, where 14 people were killed.
On December 4, Army personnel mistook coal mine workers returning home in a van to be insurgents belonging to the Yung Aung faction of the banned outfit NSCN (K) and opened fire, killing six people. Eight others, including an Army man, were killed in subsequent clashes between the forces and villagers.
(With PTI Inputs)