Nagaland declared ‘disturbed area’ for six more months under AFSPA

The AFSPA, which grants special powers to the Indian armed forces in disturbed areas, has been in force in Nagaland for several decades.

New Delhi

The Central government has declared the entire state of Nagaland as “disturbed area” for six more months, with effect from 30th June 2019, under the AFSPA, which empowers the security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior notice.

A ministry of home affairs notification stated that the central government is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of the state of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition  that the use of armed forces in aid of civilian power is necessary.

Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (No. 28 of 1958), the central government declared the whole of Nagaland to be a ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from 30th June 2019, for the purpose of that Act,” the notification said.

The AFSPA, which grants special powers to the Indian armed forces in disturbed areas, has been in force in Nagaland for several decades and it has not been withdrawn despite a framework agreement signed in August 2015 by Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM and the government.

Officials said the decision to extend AFSPA was taken as the security establishment felt that it was not the right time to withdraw the measure.