AFSPA removed from Dibrugarh district in Assam, announces Himanta Biswa Sarma

With Thursday’s decision, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said only three districts would be covered by AFSPA

Updated on: Mar 27, 2025, 18:53:55 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the Union home ministry has withdrawn provisions of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Dibrugarh district in the state.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses a press conference after the cabinet meeting at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati. (ANI FILE PHOTO)

The AFSPA gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary for the “maintenance of public order” in areas which are notified as “disturbed”. It will remain effective in Tinsukia, Sibsagar and Charaideo districts.

“At one-point, the entire Assam was under AFSPA provisions. Gradually, the Centre brought down areas in which the law would remain effective. Today the union home ministry decided to remove disturbed area tag from Dibrugarh. Now only three districts would be covered by AFSPA. We hope to bring that down in the coming days,” Sarma told reporters in Guwahati.

The state government recently decided to upgrade Dibrugarh town, which is hub of the tea industry in the state, as Assam’s second capital after Dispur. Sarma said that the move to remove AFSPA will help Dibrugarh district .

AFSPA was first enforced across Assam in 1990 at the height of insurgency by ULFA. It has been extended every six months since then with some areas getting excluded after review of the law and order situation on the ground.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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