Modi government to reduce 'disturbed areas' under AFSPA in Northeast: Amit Shah

The AFSPA gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest, and open fire if deemed necessary for 'the maintenance of public order'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday tweeted that the Narendra Modi government will decrease the jurisdiction of “disturbed areas” declared under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur. In a series of tweets, Shah attributed the decision to the significant improvement in the security situation in the northeast.

The AFSPA gives armed forces personnel operating in disturbed areas, sweeping powers to search, arrest, and open fire if they deem it necessary for "the maintenance of public order". An area or district is notified as a disturbed area under the AFSPA to facilitate the operations of the armed forces.

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In Assam, the disturbed area notification was in force since 1990, but removed from the entire state, except nine districts and one sub-division of one district from April 1, 2022. From April 1, 2023, it has been limited to only eight districts in Assam.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday tweeted that the Narendra Modi government will decrease the jurisdiction of “disturbed areas” declared under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur. In a series of tweets, Shah attributed the decision to the significant improvement in the security situation in the northeast.

The AFSPA gives armed forces personnel operating in disturbed areas, sweeping powers to search, arrest, and open fire if they deem it necessary for "the maintenance of public order". An area or district is notified as a disturbed area under the AFSPA to facilitate the operations of the armed forces.

In Assam, the disturbed area notification was in force since 1990, but removed from the entire state, except nine districts and one sub-division of one district from April 1, 2022. From April 1, 2023, it has been limited to only eight districts in Assam.

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In Manipur, except the Imphal municipality area, the entire state was declared a “disturbed area” in 2004 and it has been in force since then.

On April 1, 2022, 15 police station areas of six districts were freed from the ambit of the AFSPA.Now, with the removal of the AFSPA from areas falling under four other police station areas with effect from April 1, 2023, the disturbed area tag was removed from a total of 19 police station areas in seven districts of the state, the officials said.

The AFSPA has been in force in Nagaland since 1995. It was removed from 15 police station areas of seven districts from April 1, 2022.

Following a recommendation of a government-appointed committee, the AFSPA was removed from three other police station areas with effect from April 1, 2023, the officials said. With this, the disturbed area tag has been removed from a total of 18 police station areas in eight districts of Nagaland.