Ninong Ering, the Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh, has strongly opposed to the decision of the Central government to extend Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act [AFSPA] by six months in three districts of the State.
A report published in Northeast Today on Wednesday, quoted the Congress MP from Arunachal East Parliamentary constituency as saying, “When Arunachal Pradesh is known as a peaceful state and the Centre is holding parleys to hammer out an acceptable solution to the Naga issue, what is the justification of AFSPA in the three districts of the state?”
As per the report, Ering alleged that the move reflects the “contradictory policy of the BJP-led NDA government”.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the three districts – Tirap, Changlang and Longding and eight police station areas have been declared “disturbed” under AFSPA, 1958.
As per the report, the areas under eight police stations in Arunachal Pradesh which have been declared as ‘disturbed’ are Balemu and Bhalukpong Police Stations in West Kameng district, Seijosa Police Station in East Kameng district, Balijan Police Station in Papumpare district, Namsai and Mahadevpur Police Stations in Namsai district, Roing Police Station in Lower Dibang Valley district and Sunpura Police Station in Lohit district.
The AFSPA is an Act of the Parliament of India that grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces in what each act terms ‘disturbed areas’. As per the Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976 once declared ‘disturbed’, the area has to maintain status quo for a minimum period of three months.
The two areas in Arunachal Pradesh from where AFSPA has been withdrawn fall under Likabali Police Station in Lower Siang district and Ruksin Police Station in East Siang district.