AFSPA extended for 6 months in Nagaland amid 'recall' demand
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 30
Days after the Centre constituted a panel to review the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act (AFSPA) amid growing clamour for its withdrawal following the death of 14 civilians in Nagaland, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today issued an order declaring the entire state as “disturbed area” under the Act for another six months claiming the condition was still “dangerous”. The MHA said the “disturbed area” tag under AFSPA had been extended for six months from December 30 to June 30.
The state has been under AFSPA since 1958. The MHA notification comes three days after the Centre constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Secretary-level officer in the ministry Vivek Joshi with Additional Secretary (North-East) Piyush Goyal as its Member-Secretary.
The Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) of Nagaland and the Director General of Assam Rifles are among the other members of the committee. The committee has been asked to submit its report in 45 days. The notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs said the Centre “is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of the state of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary”.
It said, “Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, the Central Government hereby declares that whole of the state of Nagaland to be ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from December 30, 2021, for the purpose of the said Act.”
The notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been issued under the seal and signature of Goyal.
People in Nagaland have been demanding the withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and it gained momentum after the Army killed six civilians mistaking them as insurgents on December 3.
Entire state ‘disturbed area’: MHA
The Centre is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition that armed forces’ use in the aid of civil power is necessary
