Modi govt extends black law AFSPA in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland for 6 more months
New Delhi: The Narendra Modi led Indian government has extended black law, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), giving unbridled powers to Indian armed forces, in the disturbed Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh states for another six months with effect from April 01.
According to Kashmir Media Service, an Indian Ministry of Home Affairs notification said that the AFSPA has been extended in 8 districts – Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren – and 21 police station areas in five other districts of Nagaland.
Another MHA notification said that the AFSPA has been extended for another six months in Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh as well as areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district, bordering Assam.
The AFSPA empowers the Indian Army, para-military, and other armed forces to kill or arrest a person, enter or search premises without a warrant, along with some other actions. The draconian law also ensures protection from prosecution and legal suits without the Indian government’s sanction.
Many political parties, NGOs, and civil society organisations in the northeastern region have been demanding complete repeal of the AFSPA. The demand intensified after Indian forces killed 14 people and injured 30 others in Nagaland’s Mon district in December 2021.
