Centre Extends AFSPA in Nagaland For 6 More Months

Central government on Thursday declared the entire Nagaland as a ''disturbed area'' for six more months with effect from December 30 under the AFSPA. The government termed the state's condition ''disturbed and dangerous.

"Whereas the Central government is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of the State of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary,'' a notification from Home Ministry dated December 30 read.

"Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (No.28 of 1958) the Central Government hereby declares that whole of the State of Nagaland to be 'disturbed area' for a period of six months with effect from December 30, 2021, for the purpose of the said Act," the notification added.

The Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act (AFSPA), gives immense powers to the security forces to operate freely anywhere that has been declared a "disturbed area"; no military personnel in an area where AFSPA is in force can be prosecuted without the centre's sanction.

The Nagaland government on Sunday had asserted that a committee would soon be instituted to look into the withdrawal of the AFSPA from the state.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 23rd and the same was attended by Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland deputy CM Y Patton and NPFLP leader TR Zeliang, according to an official statement.

The demand to repeal AFSPA picked up after a botched-up army operation against insurgents in Nagaland leading to the killings of 14 civilians.