Guwahati, Aug 29: Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi on Wednesday extended imposition of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, also known as AFSPA in the state for six more months with immidiate effect. With application of AFSPA, Assam has been delcared as 'disturbed area' where security forces get special rights and immunity for carrying out various operations.

“As per powers conferred under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, the Governor of Assam has declared the entire State of Assam as ‘Disturbed Area’ upto 6 (six) months beyond 28th August 2018, unless withdrawn earlier,” an official release said. In May, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the AFSPA may be withdrawn from areas where security situation improves.

The AFSPA has been completely withdrawn from Meghalaya and partly from Arunachal Pradesh but it is in force in Nagaland, Assam and three districts in Arunachal Pradesh. The controversial law, AFSPA, which empowers security forces to conduct operations, arrest anyone anywhere without prior notice, is also in force in Jammu and Kashmir.

There have been demands in the Northeast as well as in Jammu and Kashmir that the AFSPA be withdrawn completely as the security forces often allegedly use it whenever there is complaints of human rights violation and use of extreme force. (With agency inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2018 11:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).