AFSPA lifted in Meghalaya

AFSPA lifted in Meghalaya

Context:

AFSPA has been revoked from Meghalaya and parts of Arunachal Pradesh owing to improvement in security situation.

What has happened?

• The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been revoked from Meghalaya since 1st April
• In Arunachal Pradesh, the impact of AFSPA has been reduced to eight police stations instead of 16 police stations

What is AFSPA?

• AFSPA came into force due to rising insurgencies in the north-eastern states
• Armed Forces Special Powers Act was introduced in 1958
• It gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”.

Gives armed forces the power to:

• kill anyone acting in contravention of law,
• Arrest and search any premises without a warrant
• Provide cover to forces from prosecution and legal suits without the Centre’s sanction.

What is a ‘disturbed area’?

• It is declared by notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA.
• An area can be disturbed due to disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.

Who can declare a ‘disturbed area’?

Central Government or the Governor of the state or administrator of UT

Which states are/had been under AFSPA?

• Effective in the whole of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (excluding seven assembly constituencies of Imphal)
• In Arunachal Pradesh it was in force in 16 police stations and in Tirap, Longding and Changlang districts bordering Assam
• In Meghalaya,it was effective in a 20 km area along the Assam-Meghalaya border
• Tripura withdrew the AFSPA in 2015
• Jammu and Kashmir has a similar Act

Changes in Protected Area Permit (PAP):

• Under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, all areas falling between the Inner line and the International Border of some States were declared as protected areas.
• PAP for foreigners visiting Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland has been relaxed
• The PAP will be valid for five years with effect from 1st April
• However, residents from Pakistan, Afghanistan and China will not be allowed to visit these areas.