Assam, Manipur can now decide on AFSPA: 

Assam, Manipur can now decide on AFSPA: 

Context

• The Union Home Ministry is set to give up its power to impose the ‘disturbed areas’ tag on Assam and Manipur.

Getting free from the tag

• The States are competent to decide whether they want to continue with it in entirety or impose it in a few pockets where disturbance is expected, sources said.
• Both the States ruled by the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) will be freed from the tag effectively.
• It means that it will be the States’ decision to either continue the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) or revoke it.
• It would be the first time since 1990, when the AFSPA was first invoked in Assam that the Centre would give up its power to continue or discontinue it.
• As per Section 3 of the AFSPA, it can be invoked in places where “the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary.”
• The AFSPA vests the Army and Central forces deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone breaking the law and arrest and search any premises without warrant and shield the forces from prosecution.
• The States are competent to decide whether they want to continue with it in entirety or impose it in a few pockets where disturbance is expected