Centre extends AFSPA in Assam for another year

Guwahati: The Centre has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 declaring the entire ‘state of Assam’ as a ‘Disturbed Area’ for another one year beyond 3 November last, a state government release said in Guwahati today. “The Government of India vide order dated 4th November, 2014 has extended the earlier notification regarding “Disturbed Areas” under the provisions of Section 3 of the AF (SP) Act 1958 for another one year beyond 03/11/2014 which is presently in force”, the release said.[caption id=“attachment_2027851” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Tightening security. AFP[/caption] “The Government of India in exercise of powers under AF(SP) Act, 1958 has also declared, besides other areas, the area falling within 20 km wide belt in the state of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya along their border with the state of Assam as ‘Disturbed Area’,” it said. “The Government of India extended and issued the notification after due consideration of the law and order situation in the state of Assam due to the violent incidents caused by the underground outfits viz ULFA(I), NDFB(S) and the border areas of the state of Assam by underground outfits like GNLA, KPLT, UALA, ULFA(I), NDFB(S), NSCN(IM) and NSCN(K)”, it said. The Centre has declared the ’entire State of Assam’ as a ‘Disturbed area’ under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 with effect from November 11, 1990 vide Notification No.SO.916(E) under provisions of Section 3 of the Act, the release said. “In the ‘Disturbed Areas’ as declared by the Government of India on yearly basis under the provision of the AF(SP) Act 1958, the Army is empowered to take action for counter Insurgency (CI) operations against the underground (UG) outfits as well as for controlling the violent incidents caused by the UGs which have a direct bearing on the general law and order scenario of the state,” it said. “For taking such action the Army does not require any order or requisition from the state government or the district administration. However, only for controlling the law and order situation because of other factors, the Army requires requisition order from the Civil Authority which is issued under the provision of the CrPC, 1973,” the release said. To make counter insurgency operations more effective, however, the Union government in 1997 notified the Strategy Group under the chairmanship of the Assam chief secretary for working out broad strategies and policy coordination and the Unified Headquarters under the chairmanship of Army GoC, IV Corps for operational purposes, the release said. This arrangement has been continued by the Central government since then by issuing notification on a six monthly basis, it said. PTI