AFSPA In Nagaland For Another Six Months, Says Centre

Nagaland, Dec 30: From Thursday, i.e., December 30, Nagaland Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA) will be extended for six more months in the state.

Nagaland is seeking the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act following the constitution of a high-level panel by the Union government.

Because the central government believes that the entire territory of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous state that armed forces are needed to aid the civil authorities in their efforts.

Hence, the Central Government, in exercising its powers under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (No.28 of 1958), declares that the entire state of Nagaland is to be considered a ‘disturbed area’ beginning December 30, 2021, for the said Act said the notification.

In his notification, the Home Ministry’s additional secretary Piyush Goyal was notified that he would serve as the member secretary for the panel to examine the possibility of withdrawing the AFSPA. Heading the committee is Vivek Joshi, a secretary-level officer.


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Following a counter-insurgency operation by the Indian Army that claimed the lives of 14 civilians, both the Nagaland government and people are calling for the withdrawal of the act.

In the parliament, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh called the murders a case of ‘mistaken identity‘ and assured a probe. Protests and violence broke out across Nagaland in response to the Nagaland killings.

Security forces in Nagaland have been authorized to conduct operations and arrest anyone without prior warrants under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which has been operational for several years. The forces are also immune from being sued if they shoot someone dead.