Assam Govt Declares State As 'Disturbed Area' Under AFSPA For Another Six Months

Nothing has been said by the state government on the reasons behind extending its deadline. Security agencies and senior officials review the situation in the North-East states every six months.

(File Photo)

AFSPA in Assam: The BJP government in Assam has extended the term of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the state and declared it a disturbed area for another six months. The state government stated this in its official statement issued on Saturday. Starting on August 28, the law will remain in force for the next six months. However, the government has not said anything about the reasons for extending the deadline of the law.

According to an official statement of the state government, "The Assam government has declared Assam as a "disturbed region" for the next six months using the provisions under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958. From 28.08.2021 to the next six months, the AFSPA law will remain in force here."

The AFSPA law was enforced for the first time in Assam in 1990. 

According to a state home ministry official, the anti-terror act of AFSPA which provides special strength to army and paramilitary forces was first implemented in Assam in November 1990. Since then, its term has been extended every six months. The security agency reviews the situation in the state after which the decision is taken.   

"Assam Police closely monitors the situation in the state with the Army, the Centre's paramilitary forces and intelligence agency," he explained. After which a decision is taken to implement the law with the consent of all."

What is AFSPA Law 

AFSPA law empowers security forces to conduct raids, run campaigns, and arrest anyone without advance notice in advance and warrants. Apart from Assam, the entire State of Nagaland, some districts of Arunachal Pradesh, and most parts of Manipur have also been declared disturbed areas by implementing the AFSPA law. Security agencies and senior officials review the situation every six months and decide whether to implement it further.

There has been a constant demand to remove AFSPA laws from the North East 

Many political parties, social organizations, civil society groups, and activists from the state of the North East have been demanding the removal of the AFSPA law. Tripura is the only state among the North East states where it was decided to remove the AFSPA law in May 2015. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who was leading the then Left Front Government, had decided to remove the law from the state in view of the decline in terrorist activities in Tripura.