Following an “improved security situation and fast-tracked development” in certain areas of the Northeast, the central government has taken the significant step to reduce the disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur. The decision will take full effect on 1 April.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, “In a significant step, GoI under the decisive leadership of PM Shri @NarendraModi Ji has decided to reduce disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the states of Nagaland, Assam and Manipur after decades.” The current decision came forth two months after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma indicated that the AFSPA would see some positive developments this year.
The Union minister also stated that, under PM Narendra Modi, the Northeast is experiencing a new period of peace, prosperity, and tremendous growth. Shah further tweeted, “Reduction in areas under AFSPA is a result of the improved security situation and fast-tracked development due to the consistent efforts and several agreements to end insurgency and bring lasting peace in North East by PM @Narendramodi government.”
The disturbed area notification will be lifted from 15 police stations in 7 districts in Nagaland on Friday. AFSPA will be withdrawn in several Assam districts as well. 15 police station areas in six districts in Manipur will be excluded from the disturbed area notification. Militancy incidents in 2021 have decreased by 74% as compared to 2014. Similarly, security personnel and civilian deaths have decreased by 60% and 84%, respectively.
The Centre notified that the majority of extremist organisations had laid down their arms. In the previous two years, some 7,000 insurgents have surrendered. Also, the government has signed several accords aimed at putting an end to extremism and establishing long-term peace in the Northeast. The Bodo Accord of January 2020 put an end to Assam’s 50-year-old Bodo crisis. The Karbi-Anglong Agreement, signed in September 2021, ended a decades-long conflict over Assam’s Karbi area.
In the aftermath of the Mon killings last year, the government formed a committee to evaluate the demand to have AFSPA removed from Nagaland. In December last year, 13 civilians were killed by the Army in a botched anti-insurgency in Nagaland. In 2015 and 2018, due to the improved security situation in Tripura and Meghalaya, the AFSPA was totally removed.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju termed the Centre’s move to reduce disturbed areas under AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur as a “historic decision”. “The reduction of AFSPA area in the Northeast is a historic decision. A lot of steps have been taken by Home Minister and Prime Minister. Arunachal Pradesh had removed AFSPA long back except in three districts. This decision shows that the era of peace has arrived in the Northeast region in the true sense,” Rijiju said. The Union Minister said when the AFSPA provision is removed, that means the security situation has improved. “This shows the commitment of the government and success in terms of bringing a peaceful atmosphere in the Northeastern region,” he said, He further said that the imposition of AFSPA is based on the ground security situation, if the ground situation is not conducive to removing this particular provision, then it is difficult for the government, as security officers will have to operate under certain coverage and protection.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday, “Assam will withdraw AFSPA completely from midnight today, except in nine districts and one subdivision. It will be withdrawn from 60% of our territory. AFSPA will be withdrawn from complete lower, central and north Assam.” He said that Assam was declared a disturbed area on the intervening night of 27 and 28 November in 1990. “Since then AFSPA was in force continuously. AFSPA used to be extended every six months. So far 62 times the government of Assam has extended AFSPA since 1990. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a bold decision to withdraw AFSPA from the area wherever it is not required,” the Chief Minister said.
With agency inputs