Home Ministry extends AFSPA in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam-Meghalaya border

NEW DELHI: The home ministry has extended the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in 16 police stations of Arunachal Pradesh and 20 kilometres along the Assam-Meghalaya border for six months and one year respectively. The latest order issued on November 4-5 came despite opposition from the state governments.

It cited the presence of Naga insurgent groups including National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) NSCN (K), National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang-Kitovi) NSCK (KK) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Reformist) NSCN (R) besides United Liberation front of Assam (Independent) ULFA (I) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) NDFB (S) to declare these districts as “disturbed areas” under section 3 of AFSPA.

The order also highlighted the abrogation of ceasefire by NSCN (K) following which the group carried out the deadliest attack on Indian army troops.