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MHA for partial repeal of AFSPA in Assam, Arunachal

On May 3, the MHA had enforced AFSPA in entire Assam and three districts of Arunachal Pradesh for three months, extending the earlier notifications

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If some top government sources are to be believed, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is in favour of removing the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from some areas in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

In fact, the MHA has directed the governments in these two states to prepare a report in this regard, sources said on Tuesday.

"We have asked for a report from both the state governments. If they are satisfied with the public order in some areas, AFSPA can be withdrawn," a senior government official said.

The draconian legislation gives extraordinary powers to the Army in conflict-hit states. On May 3, the MHA had enforced AFSPA in entire Assam and three districts of Arunachal Pradesh for three months, extending the earlier notifications.

The Ministry had cited violence by insurgent groups, such as ULFA, NDFB, and NSCN (K), as the reason behind the decision.

The Act has been in force in Assam since 1990 and in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh — Tirap, Changlang and Longding — since January, 2016. The next review to extend AFSPA in these "disturbed" regions is to be done before August. The Centre has reduced the time period between two reviews from the earlier six months in order to take a call on the subject, in consultation with the state governments, at short intervals. Earlier, the notifications would come at a gap of six months.

"We have reduced the gap so that, if required, the Act can be lifted in some areas," a senior government official said.

Sources said if the Act is withdrawn in some parts of Assam, the impact on other northeastern states, such as Manipur and Nagaland, would be huge as civil rights activists there have been demanding a repeal of the legislation for a long time now. The 'Iron Lady' of Manipur, Irom Sharmila, ended her 16-year hunger strike against the law just last year. She later contested the legislative Assembly elections but lost.

Meanwhile, senior IAS officer Rajiv Gauba, who will succeed Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, will visit Myanmar with an Indian delegation for talks on sharing of intelligence regarding insurgent groups and smuggling of arms and drugs in the northeast.

In the past, several attempts have been made by various quarters to repeal the Act but the Army has expressed its reservations. During the UPA regime, the issue had become a bone of contention between the MHA and the Ministry of Defence.

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