The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been extended in Nagaland for six more months following a review of the law and order situation in the state, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs notified on Wednesday.
The notification stated that the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, has declared eight districts and 21 police stations in five other districts of Nagaland as ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months, effective from 1 October 2024, unless withdrawn earlier.
The districts in Nagaland where AFSPA was reimposed are Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren.
Further, areas under the jurisdiction of Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza, and Kezocha police stations in Kohima District; Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem, and Anaki ‘C’ police stations in Mokokchung District; Yanglok police station in Longleng District; Bhandari, Champang, and Ralan police stations in Wokha District; and Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto, and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto District have also been declared as ‘disturbed area’ under AFSPA.
In a separate notification, the union government notified that 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, 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3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from 1 October 2024, unless withdrawn earlier.