AFSPA Will Be Denotified From More Areas As Violence Decreases, Says Lt Gen Kalita

Eastern Army Commander Lt General RP Kalita said on Tuesday that as violent activities in those areas under The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) fall below an acceptable level, AFSPA will be denotified from that areas. 

According to Kalita, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command, there has been a significant decline in violence in the insurgency-affected districts of the northeast in the previous nine months, resulting in the denotification of the AFSPA from specific areas.

He said that peace and growth have arrived in these areas. "This has only been achieved because of the sacrifice given by the Indian armed forces in ensuring that violent activities are brought down to a minimal level,” he said following a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the Raising Day of the Eastern Army Command's headquarters.

In response to a question regarding AFSPA, “As violence decrease... more and more locations will see denotified,” he said, adding that this will depends on local police being able to maintain law and order, a decision that a state administration must make in collaboration with the Centre.

The AFSPA was repealed in many areas of Nagaland, Assam and Manipur on 1 April of this year.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday that his administration is considering withdrawing AFSPA from two additional locations in the state.