Government extends AFSPA in Arunachal, Nagaland for 6months from October 1

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) has been extended by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for an additional six months, starting on October 1.

The AFSPA has been extended by another six months, according to a notification from the MHA, and is now in effect in the Nagaland districts of Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren, as well as in the Kohima district’s Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza, and Kezocha.

Mangkolemba, Mokochung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem, and Anaki ‘C’ police stations in Mokokchung district; Yanglok police station in Longleng district; Bhandari, Champang, and Ralan police stations in Wokha district; and Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto, and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto district of Nagaland.

In a separate notification, the MHA stated that the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh as well as the areas under the control of Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district were all included in the extension of the Act, which allows the Army and other Central paramilitary forces to conduct raids and operations and arrest anyone anywhere without prior notice or an arrest warrant, for an additional six months. The Central government removed disturbed areas under AFSPA in various areas of Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur beginning in April 2022 as a result of the improvement in the security situation in the Northeast. This was a historic decision. It was taken away from Mizoram in the 1980s, Tripura in 2015, and Meghalaya in 2018.

In the northeastern region, the majority of political parties, numerous NGOs, and civil society organizations have called for its total repeal. After the security forces committed “mistaken identity” in December 2021 in the Mon district of Nagaland, killing 14 people and injuring 30, the demand increased.