On Sunday, the Director General of Police, G.P. Singh, announced that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) would be extended for a period of six months in four districts of Assam: Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Charaideo. These areas, located in northern Assam, have a long history of being strongholds of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).
This marks the continuation of the “disturbed area” notification which has been in effect in Assam since 1990. Last year, the Centre removed the “disturbed area” notification from all but nine districts in the state, and in March, the Centre removed it from an additional Assam district.
Just last month, the state government proposed that the “disturbed area” notification be removed from the remaining eight districts with effect from October 1st, due to “the significant improvement in the security situation of the State and subsequent accelerated development.” AFSPA grants the Indian Armed Forces special powers to maintain public order in these “disturbed areas” declared by the Union Home Ministry.
