Centre extends AFSPA’s disturbed area tag for three districts in Arunachal Pradesh

On April 1, the Centre extended the disturbed area tag under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act for three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Press Trust of India reported. A Ministry of Home Affairs notification stated that the districts of Tirap, Changlang and Longding and the area falling within the jurisdiction of four police stations on the Arunachal Pradesh-Assam border have been declared as a “disturbed area”.

A review of the law and order situation in Arunachal’s six districts was undertaken before the March 31 deadline for the validity of the “disturbed area” designation under the AFSPA. Exercising its powers conferred under section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, the ministry took the decision.

The notification will be in force till September 30.

The Act gives the military sweeping powers to search and arrest, and to open fire if they deem it necessary for “the maintenance of public order”.