The government has decided to extend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for six more months in eight districts of Nagaland, three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, and additional areas after assessing the law and order situation in these northeastern states.
The AFSPA allows the armed forces to declare an area as "disturbed," granting them extensive powers to search, arrest, and use lethal force if deemed necessary for maintaining public order.
According to a notification from the Union Home Ministry, the central government, exercising the authority granted by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, has declared eight districts and 21 police station areas in five other districts of Nagaland as "disturbed" for six months, effective from October 1, 2024.
The districts in Nagaland affected by this extension include Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren. Specific police station areas declared as "disturbed" include:
Kohima District: Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza, and Kezocha police stations Mokokchung District: Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem, and Anaki ‘C’ police stations Longleng District: Yanglok police station Wokha District: Bhandari, Champang, and Ralan police stations Zunheboto District: Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto, and Aghunato police stations In Arunachal Pradesh, the law and order review has also led to the declaration of the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts, along with areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations, as "disturbed." This declaration is effective for six months starting from October 1, 2024, unless revoked earlier.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has previously noted that the AFSPA has been lifted in 70% of northeastern states, though it remains in place in Jammu and Kashmir. There have been ongoing calls from various groups and individuals in both Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern states for the repeal of the act.
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