Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday that his government aims to repeal the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act by...
Digital Desk: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday that his government aims to repeal the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) by the end of 2023.
"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," CM Sarma tweeted.
He made the announcement at the Commandants Conference on Monday (May 22). "AFSPA will be repealed in the entire state by November. This will make it easier for Assam Police Battalions to replace CAPFs. However, the presence of CAPFs as mandated by law must be there," one of the highlights from his speech made at the conference stated.
While the Centre lifted the AFSPA Disturbed Areas notification from the entire state of Assam last year, it remained in effect in around nine districts and one sub-division of another district. However, the notice was lifted from one more district in the state on April 1, 2023, limiting AFSPA to only eight districts in Assam.
AFSPA allows for special powers for the armed forces that can be imposed by the Centre or the Governor of a state on the state or parts of it if it is designated "disturbed'' under Section 3. The Act defines these as places that are "in such a disturbed or dangerous position that the use of armed forces in aid of civil power is required." AFSPA has been employed in places where militancy has been prominent.
The Act, which has been termed "draconian," grants the military forces sweeping powers. It allows them to open fire', including killing, on anyone who is breaking the law or carrying weapons and ammunition. It authorizes them to arrest people without warrants on the basis of "reasonable suspicion," as well as search people's homes without a warrant.
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