'Disturbed area' tag under AFSPA withdrawn from West Karbi Anglong district

 AFSPA to continue in 8 districts, 1 sub-division

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Government has withdrawn the declaration of 'disturbed area' under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from the West Karbi Anglong district with effect from October 1 last.

According to an official Notification issued by the Political (A) Department, this has been done in view of a review of the law-and-order and security scenario in the recent past indicating that the situation has improved considerably in the West Karbi Anglong district.

The state government had recently sent a report on the law-and-order situation in the West Karbi Anglong district to the Union Home Ministry and opined that the AFSPA may be withdrawn from the area. The Union Home Ministry then gave a green signal for the move, which has rsulted in the latest Notification of the Political (A) Department.

The Notification further stated the 'disturbed area' status has been extended for an additional six months (unless withdrawn earlier) in the Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts, along with the Lakhipur sub-division of the Cachar district.

It may be mentioned that the state government had earlier declared West Karbi Anglong and the eight other districts, along with the Lakhipur sub-division, as 'disturbed area' for six months under AFSPA with effect from April 1 last vide a Notification dated March 31, 2022.

The 'disturbed area' status under AFSPA is reviewed every six months and the decision regarding continuation or discontinuation of the status is taken by the Union Home Ministry after review reviewing the law-and-order and security scenario.

When the government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had assumed charge on May 10 last year, the entire Assam was under the 'disturbed area' status. On the very day of assuming charge, the Chief Minister had appealed to the ULFA-I to come forward for negotiations with the government. Some months later, he had announced that the Centre and state government would consider withdrawing the 'disturbed area' status from various areas of the state in a phased manner after reviewing the law-and-order and overall security scenario. Subsequently, AFSPA was withdrawn from other areas of the state barring nine districts and Lakhipur sub-division.

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