Guwahati: The Central government on Thursday decided to reduce the disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
The decision comes after decades of disturbance and after several controversies over the AFSPA in the northeastern region.
Following this, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah has informed about the center's decision for the reduction of areas falling under AFSPA in three of the northeastern states.
Meanwhile, while welcoming the center's decision over the same, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that around 60 percent of the state's area will now be free from AFSPA's purview.
"AFSPA will be in force in the districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao. Moreover, it will be in force in Lakhipur Sub Division of Cachar district from today midnight. With this entire lower, central and northern districts of Assam are now free from AFSPA," Sarma said during a press conference on Thursday.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Sarma said, ''AFSPA has been in force since 1990 & this move marks the beginning of a new chapter in Assam's future.
It is a testimony to the significant improvement in law & order in the State.
With peace getting primacy, North East is now on a new trajectory of growth & development.''
The Assam CM further hoped that the region is all set to become the new engine of India's growth -- Ashtalakshmi.
He further apprised that the Army has already withdrawn their camps from various areas already.
''Though, the army will not be deployed for counter-insurgency, they will be active in gathering intelligence and other activities,'' he added.
Presently, the Army is deployed in only five districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Karbi-Anglong, and Dima Hasao.
Also watch: