Guwahati: The Union Home Ministry has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) for an additional six months in specific areas of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. It will be considered effective in both states as of October 1.
In this ASHA notification issued by the Union Home Ministry, it has declared Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh, as well as Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Choukham police station areas of Namsai district, as “disturbed areas” under the AFSPA. This will remain valid for the next six months.
The law provides specific powers to the armed forces to deal with security challenges and maintain law and order in these areas. It authorises actions such as warrantless arrests, searches, and the use of force when necessary to ensure peace and stability.
With this, the Home Ministry has extended AFSPA in many districts and police station areas of Nagaland. These include Dimapur, Niuland, Chumaukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren districts, along with several specified police station jurisdictions in different districts that have been declared “disturbed areas” under the AFSPA. Will remain effective for the next six months. It will be considered applicable in both states as of October 1.
