Mokokchung, September 30 (MTNews): The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday extended the application of the “disturbed area” under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in 12 districts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, and certain parts of five other districts of the two northeastern states for another six months to facilitate the armed forces to continue the anti-insurgency operations.
The notification issued by Home Ministry said that the AFSPA would be extended for six months beginning Saturday (October 1) in nine districts – Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Zunheboto – and 16 police stations areas in four other districts – Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng and Wokha – of Nagaland.
In another notification, the Home Ministry said the “disturbed area” under the AFSPA will continue for six more months from Saturday in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts and also the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, adjoining Assam.
The reduction of jurisdiction of AFSPA in certain northeastern states came on April 1 following the recommendation of a high-level committee constituted to examine the possibility of lifting of the AFSPA after the killing of 14 civilians in Oting, Mon.
The AFSPA was entirely lifted in Tripura in 2015, in Meghalaya in 2018, and in Mizoram in 1980s.