The Government of India declared the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh by another six months.

It has also extended the ‘draconian law’ in four police station areas in three other districts which borders Assam and declared them a “disturbed area” in view of ‘continuing activities’ of banned insurgent groups.

A notification is issued by the Union home ministry which states that the Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh and four police stations bordering Assam were declared “disturbed” areas under the AFSPA.

“Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of the following four police stations in other districts of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam, are declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 up to September 30, 2021 with effect from April 1, 2021, unless withdrawn earlier,” the notification mentioned.

The four police stations are Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district, Roing police station in Lower Dibang Valley district and Sunpura police station in Lohit district.

An official from the home ministry stated the decision was taken following a review of the law and order situation in the three districts and the four police station areas of the state.