Centre removes ‘disturbed area tag’ from more areas in NE

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Central Government has once again decided to decrease the ‘disturbed areas’ in Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur under the AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Power Act). The Centre has taken this decision on account of a significant improvement in the security situation in the Northeast. However, the Centre has extended the term of the AFSPA for a period of another six months in the areas where the Act is in force.

Union Minister of Home Affairs (MHA) Amit Shah tweeted this today. He said, "Prime Minister Modi prioritized security, peace, and development in the Northeast, and as a result of it, the region is now rapidly heading on the path of peace and development."

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "I express profound gratitude to the Prime Minister for further reducing the disturbed areas in Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland. This second reduction in less than a year is reflective of the fact that the government’s model, led by Modi, rests on the two pillars of decisiveness and responsiveness. Grateful to the Home Minister for giving his undivided attention to the grand aim of achieving a secure and prosperous Northeast. In his steadfastness, he has enthused decision-making with a solution-centric approach."

Meanwhile, the AASU (All Assam Students’ Union) said that the reduction of some areas under AFSPA is a positive side. "We, however, want the Centre to withdraw the AFSPA from the entire Northeast," said AASU general secretary Sankor Jyoti Baruah in a statement. NESO chairman Samuel B. Jyrwa said, "The indigenous people of the Northeast have all along been demanding the Centre withdraw AFSPA from the entire Northeast. The step taken by the Centre is welcome, but our demand still stands."

According to sources, as a result of the remarkable improvement in the security situation, the Centre removed the disturbed area tag imposed under the AFSPA from the entire state of Assam, except for nine districts and one sub-division, as of April 1, 2022.

According to two separate notifications, the Centre has taken the decision after reviewing the law-and-order situation. The notifications said that now the AFSPA is in force only in eight districts of Assam, as opposed to nine districts earlier.

In Manipur, with effect from April 1, 2023, the "disturbed area" tag was removed from a total of 19 police station areas in seven districts of the state.

The AFSPA has been in force in Nagaland since 1995. It was removed from 15 police station areas in seven districts as of April 1, 2022. Following the recommendation of a government-appointed committee, the Centre will remove AFSPA from three other police station areas as of April 1, 2023.

IANS adds: The Central government has extended for another six more months the application of the ‘disturbed area’ under the AFSPA in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, officials said on Saturday.

In a notification, the MHA under the AFSPA had declared nine districts and 16 police stations in four other districts of Nagaland as 'disturbed areas" for a period of six months.

In another notification, the Home Ministry declared Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam, as 'disturbed areas.

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