New Delhi, 24 March (MTNews): The Union home ministry on Friday extended the “disturbed area” status in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for six months.
According to two separate notifications, the decisions were taken after review of the law and order situation in both the states.
According to the notification, the central government had declared 8 districts and 21 police stations falling under the other 5 districts of Nagaland. This is a change from 9 districts and 16 police stations in the October notification.
Sungro police station in Wokha District and Zunheboto district has been dropped from the ‘disturbed area’. However, 6 police stations in Zunheboto district namely: Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police stations have been declared ‘disturbed area’.
According to the notification, Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren districts in Nagaland are declared as disturbed areas.
The areas in Nagaland falling within the jurisdiction of Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima District; ii) Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki ‘C’ police stations in Mokokchung District; iii) Yanglok police station in Longleng District; iv) Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations in Wokha District; and v) Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto District are declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2023, unless withdrawn earlier.
Meanwhile, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam, have been declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2023, unless withdrawn earlier.