Guwahati, Mar 1: Amidst opposition in the entire north-eastern region and by almost all political parties, the Assam government on Tuesday under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 extended the “Disturbed Area” in the entire state for another 6 months, an official notification said.
Announcing the extension of the “Disturbed Area”, the official notification said that after reviewing the law and order situation in Assam in the past six months, the state government has declared the entire state of Assam as “Disturbed Area” up to six more months with effect from February 28.
The AFSPA was enforced in Assam in November 1990 and has been extended every six months.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently said that some “rationalisation” regarding the contentious act is expected in the current year.
He had said that the Army, which is deployed in the disturbed areas under the AFSPA, has virtually withdrawn from Assam, except for five-six districts.
The Chief Minister claimed that militancy was on the wane in Assam, with all tribal militant groups already coming forward for talks and depositing their arms and ammunition.
“The ULFA-I (United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent) has shown a positive attitude. There has been no conflict between the ULFA-I and the security forces during the past several months. The demand for sovereignty remains the main hurdle to take forward the talks with ULFA-I,” he had said.
A vociferous agitations by almost all political parties, NGOs and Naga civil society organisations were held in Nagaland to repeal the AFSPA after 14 people were killed and 30 other injured by the security forces in its Mon district in December last year.
