Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a major announcement today that he is aiming for the complete withdrawal of the controversial AFSPA law from the entire state by the end of this year. “AFSPA could be lifted from the entire state by November,” he said.
“We will also recruit ex-servicemen to train our police force,” Sarma added.
Currently, eight districts of Assam come under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 or AFSPA – which authorizes security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant, in addition to granting immunity from arrest and prosecution to the security forces if they shoot someone dead.
Addressing a commanders’ conference, the chief minister said the move will facilitate the replacement of the Central Armed Police or CAPF with Assam police battalions. “The presence of CAPFs as required by law will be in place,” he said.
Assam was declared a “disturbed area” by AFSPA in November 1990 and has since been renewed every six months.
Human rights activists have often argued that the law has often been abused to arrest people, raid homes, or even shoot people.
Mr Sarma called for the complete repeal of the law, citing the improved public order situation in the state over the past two years.
Earlier this month, he said the border dispute with Arunachal Pradesh has been fully resolved, while an agreement has been reached with Meghalaya in six of the 12 disputed areas and talks for the remaining areas will begin next month.
Last year, Union Home Secretary Amit Shah assured that AFSPA will soon be withdrawn from the state. He praised the Assam police and had said at the time that they were working tirelessly to bring peace to the state.
