Guwahati: The Assam government is aiming to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, completely from the state by the end of 2023, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Monday.
“We will also rope in ex-military personnel to train our police force,” Sarma said on the sidelines of the Conference of Assam Police Commandants at the Lachit Barphukan Police Training Academy, Dergaon.
We are aiming at withdrawing AFSPA completely from Assam by the end of 2023. We will also rope in ex-military personnel to train our police force.
Excerpts from my speech 👇 https://t.co/d723eVih4y
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 22, 2023
According to a notification on 31 March, the ‘Disturbed Area’ status under AFSPA was withdrawn from Lakhipur sub-division of Cachar district in Assam’s Barak Valley, but was was extended for another 6 months in 8 districts — Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao.
In these areas, the controversial law gives the armed forces the power “to fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death” upon those suspected of contravening the law, waging an armed conflict, or even “posing an imminent threat”.
AFSPA in Assam
The central government had imposed the AFSPA throughout Assam on 27 November 1990, when the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) insurgency was at its peak in the state. From August 2017 onwards, the Assam government declared the entire state as a disturbed area. The Act has been extended every 6 months with the state government reviewing the security situation.
On 1 April last year, the Centre announced the removal of the AFSPA in 23 out of 33 districts (there are 31 districts currently), as well as the Silchar sub-division of Cachar district.
In joint operations by security forces across Upper Assam in the past three years, 52 insurgents have surrendered, 260 individuals have been apprehended, and 110 weapons recovered.
The decision to withdraw AFSPA from any area is taken only after multiple deliberations with various stakeholders, state government sources said.
In recent years, there have been few sporadic incidents involving insurgents in Assam. On 9 February, ULFA(I) field commander Uttam Lahon alias Uday Asom was killed in a police encounter in Tinsukia district.
Similarly, on 1 July last year, senior ULFA leader and self-styled ‘lieutenant’ Gyan Asom was killed in an encounter with Assam Police and the troops of Assam Rifles in the same district.
There were security concerns ahead of the ULFA’s 44th Raising Day on 7 April, for which the Assam Police issued a special alert in Upper Assam districts and inter-state border areas. The day ended peacefully with no untoward incident.
In April, Assam Director General of Police (DGP) G.P. Singh had told ThePrint about a possibility of reducing Disturbed Areas in the state in next 6 months.
“Formally, we are watching the situation and would take appropriate decision at an appropriate time. Informally, we would push for complete removal in the coming months,” Singh had remarked.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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