Guwahati, March 30:
The Government of India has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for another six months in select areas of Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. The decision comes amid continuing security concerns and a volatile law and order situation in parts of the northeastern region.
The Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the extension was necessary to maintain public order and to support security forces operating in insurgency-prone areas. While AFSPA has been gradually withdrawn from several parts of the Northeast in recent years, the law remains in force in specific regions considered sensitive or disturbed.
AFSPA grants special powers to the armed forces, including the authority to arrest without a warrant and to use force in areas declared as “disturbed.” The act has long been a subject of political and civil debate, with critics raising concerns about human rights violations.
The extension is effective from April 1 and will remain valid for six months, subject to periodic review based on the security situation.
