Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarmaon Monday said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 (AFSPA) is likely to be completely withdrawn from the state by the year-end as the situation in the state is constantly improving.
The controversial act is in force in eight districts-Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, bordering Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland and one sub-division, Lakhipur of Cachar district bordering Manipur. The had withdrawn the act from 23 districts and one sub-division from April 1 last year.
On November 27, 1990, the entire state was declared disturbed area and was brought under AFSPA. Since then, it has been extended seven times. In September 2017, the Centre delegated the power toAssamas well as Manipur to impose or withdraw AFSPA from their respective states.
Elsewhere in the region, AFSPA is no longer in force in Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Barring three districts, the act is not in force in Arunachal Pradesh and in areas under 15 Police stations each in Manipur and Nagaland.