Assam May Withdraw Controversial Law AFSPA By November: Himanta Sarma
NDTV
Presently, eight districts of Assam are under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 or AFSPA
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a huge announcement today, said that he was aiming at withdrawing the controversial law AFSPA from the entire state by the end of this year. "AFSPA may be lifted from the entire state by November," he said.
Presently, eight districts of Assam are under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 or AFSPA - which empowers security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant besides giving immunity from arrest and prosecution to the security forces if they shoot someone dead.
The Chief Minister, who was addressing a Commandants Conference, said the move will facilitate the replacement of Central Armed Police Forces or CAPF by Assam Police Battalions. "The presence of CAPFs as required by law shall be in place," he said.
Assam was declared a "disturbed area" under AFSPA in 1990 November and since then it was extended every six months.
