Guwahati: The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFPSA) has been further extended in Assam for another six months from February 28.
“After reviewing the law and order situation in Assam in the past six months the state government has declared the entire State of Assam as a “Disturbed Area” up to 6 (six) months with effect from 28/02/2022 unless withdrawn earlier,” said an official statement.
The declaration has been made as per powers conferred under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, it said. The government statement did not cite any specific reason for the extension.
The AFSPA was first imposed in Assam in November 1990 and has been extended every six months since then after review by the state government. It may be mentioned here that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the beginning of the year had said that by March Assam could expect some good news related to AFSPA.
After the killings of 14 civilians allegedly by the security forces in Nagaland on December 4, 2021 there were growing clamor among North Eastern states to lift the act which in many ways provide impunity to the Defence forces in dealing with civilian population in disturbed area.
In the Northeast, the AFSPA is in force in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur (excluding Imphal Municipal Council Area), Changlang, Longding and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh, and areas falling within the jurisdiction of the eight police stations of districts in Arunachal Pradesh bordering Assam.
