NEW DELHI: The Central government has decided to extend the implementation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) for an additional six months in certain regions of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. This act designates areas as "disturbed" to facilitate the operations of security forces, granting them extensive authority to conduct searches, make arrests, and even use force if they deem it necessary to maintain public order.

For a considerable period, AFSPA has been in effect in specific districts and police station areas within both Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. These extensions are regularly renewed as needed.

In an official notification, the Union Home Ministry announced that, in accordance with Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (28 of 1958), it had previously designated Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh, as well as the areas falling under the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations in the Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh (which borders the state of Assam) as "disturbed areas." This designation was made through a notification dated March 24, 2023.

Furthermore, the notification stated that a comprehensive reassessment of the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh has been conducted. Consequently, it was determined that Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh, along with the areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations in the Namsai district, bordering Assam, will continue to be designated as "disturbed areas" under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. This extension will remain in effect for a period of six months, commencing from October 1, 2023, unless revoked earlier.

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