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GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the Union home ministry has withdrawn provisions of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Dibrugarh district in the state.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