The demand for removing the law gained prominence after 14 civilians were killed by the security forces in Nagaland’s Mon district on December 4.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said he was certain that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, or AFSPA, would be revoked soon from Assam, PTI reported. “The Armed Forces Special Powers Act has been revoked from 23 districts, and partially from one district,” Shah said in Guwahati. “I am confident that it will be completely withdrawn from the entire state soon.” AFSPA gives Army personnel in “disturbed areas” sweeping powers to search, arrest, and open fire if they deem it necessary for “the maintenance of public order” It was repealed from some areas of Nagaland, Assam and Manipur from April 1. On April 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the Centre was making efforts to completely remove the Act from the North East. On Tuesday, the home minister said that the Act came into force in 1990 and has been extended seven times since, The Indian Express reported. Shah was in the city to present the President’s Colour award to the Assam Police.
