Sunday, May 31, 2015

AFSPA withdrawn from Indian State of Tripura

One of the most debated issues in the political sphere in India has been the applicability and invocation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, colloquially known as AFSPA, in the insurgency-affected States of the country.

The Act, which has been flagged by civil society as being draconian in the application of some of its provisions in the modern times, has again been in the center of public gaze since the new government took over in May 2014. Some facets of the Act have been discussed earlier on this blog at many instances, especially here and here

In a progressive move, the Act has been revoked from the Northeastern State of Tripura after 18 years in view of the reduction of terrorist activities in the State.

Over the last 18 years, the applicability of the Act had been reviewed and reduced from time to time from specific areas in Tripura. Militancy was at its peak in the late 1990s when the Act was first imposed. Tripura also shares a long border with Bangladesh which also had been in the focus of activities related to militancy.

The withdrawal of the Act has been welcomed by all stakeholders.

Though the Act stands withdrawn from Tripura, experts feel that the Government is in no hurry to withdraw it from the State of Jammu & Kashmir.

A recent report on Firstpost related to the Act’s tryst with Kashmir, more in view of the recent development in Tripura, can be accessed here.

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