New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday informed that Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre has decided to decrease the ‘disturbed areas’ in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, and said the North East region is rapidly heading on the path of peace and development.
He said the decision was taken following significant improvement in the security situation in the region.
“A historic day for the North East! PM Narendra Modi-led Government of India has once again decided to decrease the disturbed areas in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur under the AFSPA. This decision has been taken on account of significant improvement in the security situation in North-East India,” Shah said in a series of tweets.
The Home Minister also heaped praise on the PM for giving priority to the NE region and said, “For the first time in India’s history PM Narendra Ji prioritised security, peace and development in the North East. As a result, the region today is rapidly heading on the path of peace and development.”
The ruling BJP has been accusing the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre of neglecting the NE region.
Shah expressed his gratitude to the PM for bringing ‘positive change’ in the lives of the people of the North East and connecting the region with the hearts of the rest of India.
He also congratulated the people of the three NE states on the occasion.
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry in a statement said, “PM Modi is determined to make the entire North East region insurgency free. The Central government has been in constant dialogue with the State governments and other stakeholders in this regard. Due to improvement in the security situation by the Modi government, the disturbed area notification under AFSPA was completely withdrawn from Tripura in 2015 and Meghalaya in 2018.”
“The ‘disturbed areas’ notification has been in force since 1990 in the whole of Assam. As a result of significant improvement in the security situation due to the untiring efforts of the Modi government, the disturbed areas under AFSPA were removed with effect from April 1, 2022 from the entire state except nine districts and one sub-division of another district, and from April 1, 2023 it will be reduced to only eight districts,” the release said.
The Home Ministry said, “Disturbed area declaration under AFSPA in Manipur (except Imphal Municipality area) has been in operation since 2004. Taking an important step by the Central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji, 15 police station areas of six districts were taken out of the disturbed area notification from April 1, 2022, and now from April 1,2023 the disturbed area notification under AFSPA will be withdrawn from four other police station. Thus, 19 police stations in 7 districts of Manipur have been removed from the disturbed areas notification.”
“The disturbed areas notification was applicable in the whole of Nagaland from 1995. Following the recommendation of the committee constituted in this context to remove AFSPA in a phased manner, the disturbed area notification was withdrawn from 15 police stations of seven districts with effect from April 1, 2022. It will further be withdrawn from three other police stations with effect from April 1,2023. Therefore, a total of 18 police stations in eight districts of Nagaland are being removed from the disturbed area notification under AFSPA,” the statement said.
