Ajit Karn
Parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have been designated as “disturbed areas” under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 for an additional six months.
The decision was made after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) evaluated the condition of law and order in both states.
The AFSPA grants security forces the authority to detain an individual without a warrant, enter or search a building without a warrant, and take other actions.
According to the MHA notification, the central government in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the AFSPA 1958 had declared Changlang, Tirap, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam to be “disturbed areas” on September 30, 2022.
Through the new notification, an additional police station area has been added to the AFSPA.
According to the MHA, a new assessment of the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh has been conducted.
“Now, therefore, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam, are declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2023, unless withdrawn earlier,” the MHA notification said.
The Union Home Ministry added that, pursuant to Section 3 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, the central government had designated nine districts and 16 police stations in four other districts of Nagaland as ‘disturbed areas’ for a period of six months beginning October 1, 2022.
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MHA stated that the status of disturbed area will now be applicable in eight districts and 21 police stations.
