Decision to revoke AFSPA taken after consulting top police officials: Sarkar

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has said the decision to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was taken after consulting top police officials and

considering the prevailing law and order situation in the state.

"The top officials of the police reviewed the situation and said the law does not need further extension. Based on their views, we today discussed it along with other issues in our cabinet. The cabinet has today come to the conclusion that the Disturbed Areas Act need not further be extended and should be removed. Accordingly the cabinet has decided and I am informing you all of this," Sarkar said.

He further said that the Act was promulgated at a time when there were a very few police stations in the state, adding that the current situation was vastly different.

"If the situation returns again, then we shall again discuss and set our future course. We first promulgated it in 1997, and at that time the number of police stations in our state was very less, it was

between 40 to 42. The situation then and now is vastly different. Gradually, the number of police stations increased to 74 with 36 outposts. At present the Act is fully there in 26 police

stations and partially in four police stations, in all, a total 30 police stations out of 74," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Government of Tripura decided to withdraw AFSPA from the state. The state will now move the Union Home Ministry for the formal withdrawal of AFSPA.

The Act was implemented in 40 police station areas of the state in February, 1997. With declining insurgency, the administration, in June 2013 had earlier withdrawn the Act from nine police stations.

This move comes after Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital on Wednesday.