Centre extends Afspa in parts of Manipur, Arunachal, Nagaland for 6 more months

Guwahati: The Centre has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (Afspa) for another six months from Oct 1 in parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh declared as “disturbed areas”.The extension comes amid continuing security concerns linked to ethnic conflict, insurgency and cross-border militant activity in parts of these three northeastern states bordering Myanmar. The govt has said more than 80% of the northeast is now outside the ambit of the law.The current term of the law that gives special powers to armed forces in these areas is due to end on Sept 30.In Assam, where the state govt, and not the Centre, has been issuing its own periodic “disturbed area” notifications since 2017, the current six-month term is also due to expire on Sept 30.