On March 28, the Ministry of Home Affairs extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, to eight districts and 21 police posts in five districts of Nagaland for six months. The extension will take effect April 1, 2019, unless it is revoked earlier.
The MHA put out a notice saying that the AFSPA has been renewed for another six months in Nagaland’s Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren districts.
Additionally, the MHA expanded AFSPA to cover areas controlled by 21 police stations spread across five districts of Nagaland. These districts have six police stations each in Zunheboto and Mokokchung, five police stations in Kohima, three police stations in Wokha, and Yanglok police station in Longleng.
Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza, and Kezocha are in the Kohima district; Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem, and Anaki ‘C’ are in the Mokokchung district; Yanglok is in the Longleng district; Bhandari, Champang, and Ralan are in the Wokha district; and Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto, and Aghunato are in the Zunheboto district.
“Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren districts in Nagaland and the areas in Nagaland falling within the jurisdiction of i) Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima District; ii) Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki ‘C’ police stations in Mokokchung District; iii) Yanglok police station in Longleng District; iv) Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations in Wokha District; and v) Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto District, are declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2023, unless withdrawn earlier,” says the notice.
After taking another look at the state of law and order in Nagaland, the Center made the move.
In the past, the Central Government used the powers given to it by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (28 of 1958) to label eight districts and 21 police stations in five other districts of the state of Nagaland as “disturbed areas” for six months starting October 1, 2023.
Security forces can arrest someone without a warrant, enter or check a building without a warrant, and do other things with the AFSPA’s permission.
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