AFSPA cover in Assam extended for six months

NEW DELHI: The Centre has extended the cover of controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Assam and border areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya for a period of six more months with effect from November 4.

The decision has been taken by the Home Ministry after considering the security situation in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

While AFSPA will cover entire Assam, it will be applicable up to 20 km from the borders of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya where insurgent groups are active.

AFSPA has been in force in Assam since 1990 when ULFA was declared outlawed and Army crackdown was launched against the insurgent group.

There have been continuous demands for repeal of AFSPA by various groups in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Manipur and other states.

Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had declared that the Act would be amended to ensure it was "humane" on the basis of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission's report, no action has been taken so far.