NEW DELHI : The entire Nagaland was on Wednesday declared a “disturbed area" for six more months by the central government, enabling the continuation of the controversial AFSPA which empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior warrant. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been in force in Nagaland for several decades. The MHA said in a notification that the central government is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of Nagaland is in such a “disturbed and dangerous condition" that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary. “Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (No. There have been demands from various organisations in the Northeast as well as in Jammu and Kashmir for repealing the AFSPA, which, they allege, gives "sweeping powers" to security forces.

Source: Mint December 30, 2020 13:08 UTC