MHA revokes AFSPA from Meghalaya, partially from Arunachal

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has completely revoked the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Meghalaya while the controversial act has been diluted it in other regions of Arunachal Pradesh, a media report said Monday.
Till September 2017, 40 per cent of Meghalaya was under AFSPA. However, after recent review in consultations with the state government, AFSPA was removed completely from Meghalaya, a MHA statement said, according to The Indian Express.
It said the act has been diluted in the jurisdiction of eight police stations from Arunachal Pradesh. “AFSPA is now applicable only in 8 police stations in Arunachal, down from 16 police stations in 2017,” it said.
According to the report, the Home Ministry has also enhanced the surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy for militants in northeast from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. “The policy will be applicable from April 1, 2018,” it said.
The government also relaxed the restricted area permit and protected area permit for foreigners visiting Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. Restrictions, however, will remain for “countries of concern”, which includes Pakistan, Afghanistan and China.
During the past four years, there has been a decline of 63 per cent in insurgency-related incidents in the region, while there has been a reduction of 83 per cent in civilians deaths and 40 per cent in casualties of security forces in 2017, said a statement from the Home Ministry.