AFSPA is likely to be extended in Arunachal Pradesh: Report 1Apr 2022

April 1, 2022

AFSPA is likely to be extended in Arunachal Pradesh

New Delhi: The Center is expected to extend the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 in Arunachal Pradesh as it examines suggestions made by a high-level committee on repeal of the law in Nagaland.

In Arunachal, the status of ‘disturbed area’ is currently applicable to Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts and areas under Namsai and Mahadevapur police stations bordering Assam.

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The Union Home Ministry had in October last year extended it for six months till March 31, 2022.

Officials said that while incidents of violence have come down, insurgent groups are still active in various parts of the northeast.

“Recently, two suspected NSCN(IM) militants were killed while another got injured in an encounter with security forces in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh.

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A huge cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered from another arrested suspect.”

There has been a growing demand for the removal of AFSPA from north-eastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, after security forces killed 14 civilians in an unsuccessful operation in Nagaland in December last year.

The Center constituted a six-member committee headed by the Registrar General of India, Vivek Joshi, to look into the law. The panel’s recommendations on repeal of AFSPA are yet to be made public and the law in Nagaland is in force till June.

Apart from Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh is the only state where the decision on extension or rationalization of AFSPA is taken by the Union Home Ministry.