by Bhupen Goswami
Guwahati : The BJP government at the Centre has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Assam for the next six months from August 28. Afspa was set up in Assam in November 1990 and since then it is extended every six months after review by the State Government. The BJP government in Assam has extended the term of law and declared it a disturbed area for another six months. For the first time in the last three decades, the Assam Government has declared the entire State as a disturbed area for six months in exercise of powers under the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958. The announcement has come into effect from September 1.
The state government in its official statement issued on Saturday said this. Starting from August 28, the law will remain in force for the next six months. However, nothing has been said by the government on the reasons for extending the deadline for the law.According to an official statement of the state government, “The Assam government has declared Assam as a “disturbed region” for the next six months using the strength under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA-AFSPA), 1958. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act will remain in force here for the next six months from 28.08.2021. According to a state Home Ministry official, the AFSPA’s Anti-Terror Act, which provides special strength to the Army and paramilitary forces, was first implemented in Assam in November 1990. Since then, after every six months, its term has been extended.
The security agency reviews the situation in the state after which the decision is taken. “Assam Police along with army, central paramilitary force and intelligence agency closely monitor the situation in the state,” he said. After which a decision is taken to implement the law with the consent of all.Apart from Assam, some districts of the entire State of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and most of the areas of Manipur have also been declared disturbed areas by enacting afspa law. The security agency and senior officials review the situation every six months and decide whether to implement it further.
Many political parties, social organizations, civil society groups and activists have been demanding the removal of the AFSPA law from the States of the North East. Terming the Armed Forces Special Rights Act (AFSPA) as a major hurdle in the overall development of the North Eastern Region and connecting their youth with the mainstream of the country, members of several political and social organisations like Congress, AJP, TMC today urged the government in Guwahati to consider withdrawing it. All the parties have said that 50,000 civilians have been killed by the armed forces in 50 years during AFSPA in the region.Assam student leader Shankar Barua said afspa should be removed unconditionally. He said afspa has been set up in several north-eastern states for 50 years.
This is a major hurdle in connecting the youth of the North-East with the rest of India. If the Government removes AFSPA from the region and paves the way for the youth to join the rest of India, militancy in this region will die its own death. Mention here that in fact, assam rifles allegedly killed 10 people in Malom area for spreading nuisance. Making these deaths an issue, social activist and Manipur poet Irom Kanu Sharmila had started demanding the removal of the Special Arms Act (AFSPA) AFSPA of the Government of India from the North Eastern State. This special law is also applicable in most parts of North East India and Kashmir. Under this, army men can not only enter anyone’s house without any papers, conduct searches, but they also have the right to shoot anyone on the spot.