NEW DELHI: Realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous northeast India, the Central Government has decided to reduce the number of disturbed areas in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from April.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that this decision was taken in view of the significant improvement in the security situation in the northeast. This will be the second reduction in AFSPA, for long a source of resentment in the northeast, within a year. The BJP-led NDA had made restoration of normalcy a key plank of its successful campaign in the recently held polls.
“A historic day for the northeast! PM Modi led Government of India 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 northeast India,” he said.
Shah said for the first time in India’s history, Modi prioritised security, peace and development in the northeast and as a result of it, the region is now rapidly heading on the path of peace and development. He expressed gratitude to the prime minister for bringing positive change in the lives of the people of the northeast and connecting the region with the “hearts of the rest of India”.
The AFSPA gives armed forces personnel, operating in disturbed areas, sweeping powers to search, arrest, and to open fire if they deem it necessary for “the maintenance of public order”. An area or district is notified as a disturbed area under AFSPA to facilitate the operations of the armed forces.
Home Ministry said that compared to 2014, there is a reduction of 76 per cent in extremist incidents in 2022. The deaths of security personnel have come down by 90 per cent and the deaths of civilians have come down by 97 per cent during this period. Several peace accords were implemented in the northeastern states in last four years. As a result, most of the extremist groups have surrendered from 2014 till now.
