Imphal: The Central government has decided to reduce the “disturbed areas” under the ambit of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Saturday.
Prioritizing the security, peace and development of the North East was done for the first time under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a result of it, the region today is rapidly heading on the path of peace and development, a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs quoting Shah said.
In Manipur, AFSPA will be removed from areas under the jurisdiction of four more police stations with effect from April 1, 2023. They are Wangoi, Leimakhong, Nambol and Moirang police stations.
Disturbed area declaration under AFSPA in Manipur (except Imphal Municipality area) was in operation since 2004. However, the central government withdrew the controversial Act from 15 police stations of six districts from 1st April, last year. With the addition of four more police stations, 19 PS in seven districts of Manipur have been removed from the disturbed area notification under AFSPA.
In Assam, the ‘Disturbed Areas’ has been in force since 1990 in the whole of Assam. However, the Modi government removed them from the entire state except 9 districts and one sub-division of another district from 1st April 2022. But now it will be reduced to only eight district from 1st April 2023.
The ‘Disturbed Areas’ notification was applicable in the whole of Nagaland since 1995. However, following the recommendation of a committee constituted in this context to remove AFSPA in a phased manner, the notification was withdrawn from 15 police stations of seven districts from 1st April, 2022.
It is further being withdrawn from 3 other police stations with effect from 1st April, 2023, therefore, a total of 18 police stations in 8 districts of Nagaland are being removed from the disturbed area notification under AFSPA, said the statement.
Due to improvement in the security situation, the disturbed area notification under AFSPA was completely withdrawn from Tripura in 2015 and Meghalaya in 2018.
Manipur CM welcomes decision to withdraw AFSPA from four PS
Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday welcomed the withdrawal of four more Police stations from the purview of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 58.
“With significant improvement in the law-and-order situation in the state, the Government of India has decided to remove the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from areas falling under the jurisdiction of 19 police stations including Wangoi, Leimakhong, Nambol, and Moirang police stations in Manipur,” he said.
This historic moment was achieved, following the era of peace and prosperity that came in the state with the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP government in Manipur, the chief minister added.
Following the Manorama rape and murder case allegedly by 17 Assam Rifles personnel the AFSPA was withdrawn from Imphal Municipality area in 2004.
