Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday said that the Centre welcomes the step to reduce the coverage areas of disturbed land in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur under the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA).

Sonowal said that further relaxation of AFSPA in many areas of Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur is another welcome step by the Modi government. “Due to sustained and conscious effort by Narendra Modi has resulted in permanent peace in the region. On behalf of all the people of the region, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.”

He added, “The dark days of violence, disturbance, and insurgency during the Congress government dispensation have now become a thing of the past due to the conscious effort of the Modi government. The insurgents have chosen to reject the road of violence as they join the movement of nation-building under the visionary leadership of PM Modi.”

Amit Shah on Saturday also said that the Centre has decided to decrease the disturbed areas in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur under the AFSPA. Shah in a series of tweets stated, “A historic day for the Northeast! PM Modi-led government has once again decided to decrease the disturbed areas in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur under the AFSPA. This decision has been taken on account of significant improvement in the security situation in North-East India”.

He added, “For the first time in India’s history PM has prioritised security, peace, and development in the North East. As a result of it, the region today is rapidly heading on the path of peace and development”.

Shah thanked Modi, for bringing this positive change in the lives of the people of the North East and connecting the region with the hearts of the rest of India. Congratulated Northeast sisters and brothers on this momentous occasion.

In October last year, the Assam government had withdrawn the applicability of the AFSPA, 1958 from West KarbiAnglong district, citing improved law and order situation, and extended it in eight other districts and one sub-division by six months.Afspa gives immunity to the armed forces. In Assam, these special powers for search and seizure were announced in 1990. In April last year, Afspa was completely removed from 23 districts and partially from one district of the state. It continued in nine districts and one sub-division–Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, KarbiAnglong, West KarbiAnglong, DimaHasao and Lakhipur sub-division of Cachar district.

In April, Afspa was withdrawn from seven of 16 districts in Nagaland. In Manipur, it was lifted from six of the 16 districts. The Union government extended AFSPA in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for additional six months.

In a notification on March 24, MHA stated declared the Tirap, Changlang, and Lonpding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the States of Assam as “disturbed area’ vide Notification S.04623E) dated last year, September 30.

A further review of the law and order situation in the state of Arunachal Pradesh has been undertaken, now, therefore, Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai. Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh bordering the State of Assam, are declared as “disturbed areas under Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1 unless withdrawn earlier.

In another notification, it stated that the Central Government in the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958 (28 of 1958) had declared 9 districts and 16 Police Stations in 4 other districts of the state of Nagaland as ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from September 1, 2022.

Whereas a review of the law and order situation in the state of Nagaland has been undertaken. These areas are declared as ‘disturbed areas’ under Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2023, unless withdrawn earlier.

• Dimapur, Niuland, Chumukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren districts.
• Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zaubza, Kezocha police stations in Kohima District
• Mangkolembu, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem, Anaki C’ police stations in Mokokchung District
• Yanglok police station in Longleng District
• Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations in Wokha District
• Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto District