Centre extends AFSPA in Nagaland till June

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA)  in Nagaland has been extended till June 2019 declaring the state to be a "disturbed area" by the the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday.

"Whereas the central government is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of state of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary," the ministry said in a notification.

The Act has been in force in Nagaland for several decades now and was not withdrawn even after a framework agreement was signed on August 3, 2015 by Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and government interlocutor RN Ravi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

An unidentified Home Ministry official said told that operation of the Act was extended in the state as killings, loot and extortion have continued in the state.

Under AFSPA, security forces have the powers to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior notice.

It also remains in force in Assam, most of Manipur, and eight police stations of Arunachal Pradesh.

(Featured image : Scroll.in)