Assam gov withdraws AFSPA from Karbi Anglong, expands Act to 8 other districts

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA), which grants immunity to the security forces, has been suspended in the Karbi Anglong district by the Assam government but has been extended for another six months in eight other districts and one subdivision.

According to a statement from Niraj Verma, senior secretary of the home and political department, the order, which became effective on October 1, was the result of an assessment of the state’s law and order.

A report claims that due to the “better” situation in West Karbi Anglong district, the law was revoked there.

Along with the Lakhipur sub-division of Cachar in the Barak Valley, the following districts continue to be classified as disturbed areas: Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao.

The order, dated October 15 and published on Thursday, indicated that after lifting the AFSPA from the remainder of the state, nine districts and one subdivision were kept under the law as “disturbed areas” as of April 1.

“A review of the law and order and security scenario in Assam in the recent past indicates that the situation has considerably improved in the West Karbi Anglong district of the state … The Governor of Assam is pleased to withdraw the declaration of ‘Disturbed Area’ with effect from 01.10.2022 from West Karbi Anglong,” the order said.

The Northeastern State passed the Act in November 1990, and it has since been renewed every six months.

Thanks to the legislation, security officers may conduct operations anywhere and make arrests without a warrant.

Following the shooting deaths of 14 civilians by security personnel in a failed anti-insurgency operation and retaliatory violence in Nagaland’s Mon district on December 4, protests erupted last year calling for the repeal of the Act.