Guwahati: The Central government has extended the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, including Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts from Saturday (October 1, 2022) to March 30 of the following year, according to a notification released by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The AFSPA has also been expanded by the Indian government in the regions under the control of the Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in the state.
“Tirap, Changlang and Longding 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 State of Assam, are declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from October 1, 2022, unless withdrawn earlier,” reads a fresh notification issued by MHA on Friday.
The decision was made after analysing the security in certain Arunachal Pradesh districts.
Central Government in the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (28 of 1958) had declared Tirap, Changlang and Longding 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Pradesh, bordering the State of Assam, as ‘disturbed area’ for six months from April 1 to September 30, 2022, unless withdrawn earlier.
Security forces are given the authority by the AFSPA to make an arrest without a warrant, enter a building without a warrant, or conduct a warrantless search.