Assam extends disturbed area tag for another six months

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Government declared the entire state a disturbed area for another six months from February 28, 2022. The government made this declaration after reviewing the law-and-order situation in the state for the past six months.

The declaration came as per power conferred under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA).

Review of law and order after every six months is a routine activity under this Act. And the State government extends the period of promulgation of the Act if the law-and-order situation demands so.

Initially, it was the Assam Disturbed Area Act of 1955 during the agitation by Nagas in undivided Assam. The Act gave freehand to some extent to the Army. The government then repealed the Act with the incorporation of the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958.

The Naga National Council (NNC) boycotted the first general elections in 1952. It later boycotted both government schools and offices as well. When the situation worsened, the State Government deployed the Assam Rifles in Naga Hills and enacted the Assam Disturbed Areas Act, 1955. The Act provided a legal framework for the paramilitary forces and the armed state police forces to combat the insurgency in the region.

After the disintegration of Assam into smaller states and the emergence of the insurgency movement by the ULFA and other militant groups in the regions, the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act has been a regular affair in the Northeast.

Declaring the entire state a disturbed area or parts of it is under the prerogative of the State Government.

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