Shillong, Nov 08: The Centre has extended the cover of controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Assam and border areas of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh for a period of six more months with effect from November 4.
The decision has been taken by the Home Ministry after considering the security situation in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.
The decision has been taken by the Home Ministry after considering the security situation in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. While AFSPA will cover entire Assam, it will be applicable up to 20 km from the borders of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya where insurgent groups are active.
The AFSPA was clamped in the State during November 1990.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday issued an advisory to the Assam and Meghalaya governments to remain alert following a series of attacks by militants belonging to the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA).
However, the extension, considered as a routine exercise.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also sounded an alert in the neighbouring States of Assam and Meghalaya to remain vigilant and look out for the culprits responsible for the attacks.
The AFSPA has also been extended to 20 Km border areas of Assam-Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, as well, according to the latest notification issued on Monday.
Recently, seven people were killed and nine injured when suspected militants fired indiscriminately at some people in a village in Assam’s Goalpara district.
The incident took place in Gendabari village located on the Assam-Meghalaya border. According to police, all the victims were engaged in gambling on the occasion of Diwali.
The Assam government has imposed an indefinite night curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. within a two km radius of the Assam-Meghalaya border in Goalpara district and the army has been pressed in to prevent any untoward incident.
Following this incident the GNLA had gunned down five police personnel and escaped with their weapons on Monday night in the South garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
The AFSPA has also been extended to 20 Km border areas of Assam-Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, as well, according to the latest notification issued on Monday.
According to official sources, the AFSPA in Assam has been extended for six months as a precautionary measure. (SP News)
