The Assam government has once again extended the reach of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, in four districts for an additional six months, commencing from April 1.
In a recent notification issued by the State government’s Political Department, it was declared that the ‘Disturbed Area’ status under the AFSPA would persist in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, and Sivasagar districts.
The decision comes in light of a report submitted by the Assam Police Headquarters indicating a relative improvement in the overall law and order situation across the state, except for the continued activity of one militant organization in the aforementioned districts. Consequently, the authorities proposed to extend the AFSPA provisions in these areas.
Following due consideration, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, directed the Government of Assam to maintain the “status quo” regarding the designation of “Disturbed Areas” for an additional six months, starting April 1, 2024.
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The AFSPA grants significant powers to security forces, enabling them to conduct operations and make arrests without prior warrants. It also provides a level of legal immunity to security personnel involved in such operations. The Act, which was last extended on October 1, 2023, was set to expire on March 31.
It’s worth noting that while the AFSPA remains in force in the four aforementioned districts, it has been withdrawn from Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao. Previously, the Act was entirely revoked from the state of Assam, except for nine districts and a sub-division of Cachar district, effective April 1, 2022.
The saga of AFSPA in Assam dates back to November 1990 when the state was initially declared a ‘disturbed area,’ a status that has been periodically extended in subsequent years.
