Breaking News : AFSPA will be removed from some areas of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland

The Modi government of the country has taken a big decision regarding the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The Central Government has decided to remove AFSPA from some areas of Nagaland, Assam and Manipur. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has given this information on Thursday.

The reduction in AFSPA areas is the result of rapid development due to several agreements and relentless efforts by the Prime Minister to improve security and bring lasting peace and end insurgency in the North East.

Our Northeast region, which was neglected for decades, is now witnessing a new era of peace, prosperity and unprecedented development. I congratulate the people of the Northeast on this momentous occasion. He further added.

The AFSPA was approved by Parliament in 1958. Its full name is The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA). AFSPA came into force on September 11, 1958. Initially, it was applied in the North Eastern and Punjab regions declared as "disturbed areas". Most of these "trouble areas" bordered Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar. As of September 2017, AFSPA was in force in about 40 per cent of Meghalaya. Later, after a review by the Home Ministry, the state government decided to completely withdraw AFSPA from Meghalaya.