Assam mulls full withdrawal of AFSPA by year-end: CM Himanta
The Hindu
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government will take necessary steps to withdraw AFSPA, which is now limited to only eight districts of the State, from Assam by the end of this year
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on August 15 said his government will take necessary steps to withdraw AFSPA from the entire State by the end of this year.
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is now limited to only eight districts of the northeastern State, he said.
Hoisting the national flag on the occasion of the 77th Independence Day here, Mr. Sarma also said around 8,000 "revolutionaries" have returned to the mainstream in the last three years.
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"I want to assure the people of Assam that by the end of this year, we will take fruitful steps to withdraw the AFSPA from every district of Assam. That will be an 'amritmoy' time for Assam's history and we are eagerly waiting for that day," he said.
Since the beginning of its application in the State more than three decades ago, the extension of the AFSPA was recommended 62 times, Mr. Sarma said.
"The northeast region is now free from terrorism. In the last three years, four peace accords have been signed with revolutionaries of Assam and around 8,000 revolutionaries have returned to the mainstream," he said.