AFSPA extended in Nagaland for six months--The Hindu-31-12-2019-Page-12

Context:

Ministry of Home Affairs notification on Nagaland

Background:

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without prior notice.

The AFSPA has been in force in the Northeast since 1958.

A framework agreement was signed in August 2015 between Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and government interlocutor R.N. Ravi in the presence of the Prime Minister raising hopes of an enduring solution to the Naga issue. Phased withdrawal of the AFSPA was one of the major pre-conditions for the peace process.

The peace process has failed to meet its set deadlines and the peace talks have not made much progress.

Details:

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 the central government via the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has declared the whole State of Nagaland to be a ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from December 30, 2019.

The reason stated for the extension has been the central government’s assessment that the area comprising the whole state of Nagaland is in a “disturbed and dangerous condition” that necessitates the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power.

AFSPA in Northeastern India:

Presently, AFSPA is operational in the entire State of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur (except Imphal Municipal area), three districts namely Tirap, Changlang and Longding of Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of the eight police stations in the districts of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Assam.
The notification declaring Manipur and Assam as “Disturbed Areas’ had been issued by the State governments. While for Nagaland, the notification is issued by the MHA.