AFSPA to remain in force in 12 Arunachal districts: Centre

The Centre on Friday said that Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, AFSPA will continue to remain in force in 12 districts of Arunachal Pradesh for six more months on the ground of continuous violence, extortion and intimidation by insurgent groups.

The Union Home Ministry has said the security scenario in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts along with areas falling under 16 police stations in nine other districts of the state remains vitiated due to the spill over of Naga insurgency.

A gazette notification issued by the Home Ministry said these areas are declared as 'disturbed area' under Section 3 of AFSPA, for six months beyond May 4, 2016.

Naga groups-NSCN-K, NSCN-IM, NSCN-R and NSCN--NK along with ULFA-I and NDFB-S, continue to indulge in extortion, area domination, inter-factional rivalry in these areas of the state.

On March 27, 2015, the Centre had declared all districts of Arunachal Pradesh bordering Assam as 'disturbed areas' under AFSPA.

However, the order was withdrawn following strong protests from the Nabam Tuki government.

Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,126 kms of the border with China and 520 kms with Myanmar.