Digital Desk: Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam,
announced today that his administration is thinking of removing AFSPA from two
more places in the state.
Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat,
Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao districts, as well as the Lakhipur sub-division
of Cachar in the Barak valley, all continued to be designated as
"Disturbed Areas" for a period of six months beginning on October 1.
The contentious law had been removed from the West Karbi Anglong
area by the administration because things had "considerably improved"
there.
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 gives security
forces protection from arrest and prosecution in the event that they kill
someone while conducting operations or making arrests without a warrant.
"Northeast and Assam are now peaceful again. Currently,
AFSPA is no longer in effect in 65% of the state. We may withdraw it in the
future from Lakhipur in Cachar and the entire Karbi Anglong district "said
Sarma.
Only six districts in Upper Assam will still fall under the
jurisdiction of the AFSPA with the removal of two more places from its scope,
he noted.
Speaking at a gathering to provide funding for the
rehabilitation of militants who had turned themselves in, Sarma said that
certain districts of Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and
Manipur had also lost their "Disturbed Area" designation under the
AFSPA.
"Bloodshed has been widespread in Assam. We have a
responsibility to halt it and build our state. We are preparing to launch a
significant programme to provide employment chances to the state's unemployed
youth, "Added he.
In front of the state DGP and other top members of the Assam
Police, Army, and paramilitary forces, the chief minister presented demand
draughts to 318 former militants who had previously laid down their weapons.
The surrendered cadres of the United Liberation Front of Asom
(Independent), United Gorkha People's Organization, Tiwa Liberation Army, Kuki
Liberation Front, Dimasa National Liberation Army, and Kuki National Liberation
Army each received a one-time grant of Rs 1.5 lakh (KNLA).
"With the exception of the ULFA (I), all militant
organisations in Assam have reintegrated into society over the past 1.5 years
of our government. I once more implore Paresh Barua, leader of the ULFA (I), to
advance society via peace rather than bloodshed "said Sarma.
Since he took control in May of last year, 6,780 cadres from
various groups have disarmed.
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