AFSPA withdrawn from four more districts in Assam, to remain in force in Ulfa stronghold

The AFSPA empowers security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant, besides giving immunity from arrest and prosecution to the forces if they shoot someone dead.

The Centre has withdrawn the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from four more districts in Assam but the "Disturbed Area" tag that allows promulgation of the Act was extended in remaining four districts by another six months.

Informing this on the occasion of Assam Police Day celebrations on Sunday, Assam Director General of Police GP Singh told reporters in Guwahati that as per the notification issued on Sunday, the AFSPA would now remain in force only in Charaideo, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia districts.

The four districts are considered strongholds of the banned insurgent group Ulfa (Independent).

The Centre's decision comes days after the Assam Cabinet headed by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had recommended withdrawal of the AFSPA from the entire state.

AFSPA, that gives the security immunity from arrests and prosecution for action during anti-insurgency operations, has remained in force in Assam since 1990 due to insurgency problems.

The same has been extended every six months after review of the law and order situation. The Centre, however, had withdrawn AFSPA from the entire state except nine districts last year. The same was withdrawn from one more district later.

With Sunday's notification, the AFSPA would be withdrawn from Jorhat, Golaghat, and two hill districts, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.

Sources said the decision to remove AFSPA from the hill districts was taken as most of the insurgent groups there had either signed a peace accord or surrendered to the government.

Singh, however, did not say why the AFSPA was kept in force in the four districts and not withdrawn from the entire state. Sources said, the decision was taken as the Ulfa (Independent) is still strong in the four districts in eastern Assam and the outfit is yet to join the peace process despite appeals by Sarma since he became the CM in May 2021.

Singh said that peace could be established due to relentless efforts and sacrifices made by the state police, Army, and the paramilitary forces.