AFSPA extended in 3 Arunachal Pradesh districts and Assam border for six months

NewsBharati    03-Apr-2018
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Itanagar, April 3: Due to various violent activities by insurgent groups NSCN, ULFA, NDFB, and others, Centre extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers Act) in 3 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and 8 police station areas bordering Assam by another six months. 

According to a notification issued by the Home Affairs Ministry, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh and eight police stations bordering Assam were declared ‘disturbed’ areas under the AFSPA, 1958. The AFSPA, which has been in force in Arunachal Pradesh for the last three decades, has been extended for six more months due to various violent activities by insurgent groups NSCN, ULFA, NDFB, and others, it added.

The AFSPA Act gives special rights and immunity to security forces in carrying out various operations in ‘disturbed’ areas. It gives security personnel the power to search premises and arrest without warrant and to use force even to the extent of causing death.

‘And whereas a further review of the law and order situation in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh and in the area falling within the jurisdiction of eleven police stations in districts of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam, has been undertaken.

‘Now, therefore, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of the following eight police stations in the districts of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam, are declared as disturbed areas under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 up to 30 September, 2018, wef 1 April, 2018, unless withdrawn earlier,’ the notification said.

The eight police stations are: Balemu and Bhalukpong police stations in West Kameng district; Seijosa police station in East Kameng district; Balijan police station in Papum Pare district; Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district; Roing police station in Lower Dibang Valley district; and Sunpura police station in Lohit district.

The two police station areas from where the Act has been withdrawn are Likabali police station in Lower Siang district and Ruksin police station in East Siang district.