The districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo and Sivasagar will continue to be designated as disturbed areas under AFSPA, the statement said.
Guwahati: The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been extended for six months in four districts of Assam due to the recent disturbances in Bangladesh and their potential negative impact on internal law and order, according to a notification issued on Tuesday.
The districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo and Sivasagar will continue to be classified as disturbed areas under AFSPA.
Reports from various agencies, obtained through the police headquarters, indicate that thanks to sustained efforts and proactive counter-insurgency measures by the security forces, the overall situation in Assam has significantly improved over the past few years, particularly in the last three years, the notification stated.
However, due to recent disturbances in neighbouring Bangladesh and their potential adverse impact on internal law and order, the Government of Assam has recommended extending the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for another six months, the statement added.
Under AFSPA, an area is designated as disturbed to facilitate operations by security forces.
The proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which, after thorough consideration, decided to maintain the status quo regarding disturbed areas in the state for an additional six months starting from October 1, according to the notification.
These four districts have been the only areas under AFSPA in Assam since last October, as the law has been progressively withdrawn from other regions.
It was withdrawn from Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao last year, with other areas being removed from its scope earlier.
AFSPA was first enforced in Assam in November 1990 and has been extended every six months since.
The Act grants security forces the authority to carry out operations anywhere and arrest individuals without a warrant. It also provides a degree of immunity to security forces in case an operation encounters issues.
Civil society groups and human rights activists have been calling for the complete removal of the draconian law from the Northeast, citing human rights violations by the armed forces.
The demand to repeal the Act intensified after the death of 14 civilians in a botched anti-insurgency operation and subsequent violence in Nagaland’s Mon district on December 4, 2021.
