Tripura: After a period of 18 years, the state government withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was enforced in Tripura on May 28.
Making an announcement in this regard, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar told reporters: “In view of the significant taming of terrorism in Tripura, the council of ministers today (Wednesday) decided to withdraw the AFSPA from the entire state” .
“The security forces recently exhaustively reviewed the law and order situation in the state. Considering the reports of the security forces, the council of ministers decided to recommend to the union home ministry to issue a notification to withdraw the AFSPA,” he added.
AFSPA
“The decisions were taken in view of the decrease of militancy-related incidents in Tripura over the last few years. However, the security forces would be watchful over the situation,” CM Manik Sarkar added.
Draconian AFSPA was first enforced in Tripura on 16 February, 1997. This act provides massive powers to security forces to shoot at sight, arrest anybody without a warrant, and carry out searches without consent. The act provides for impunity to security forces for excessed committed in areas where AFSPA is in force.
However AFSPA still remains in force force in Kashmir, Manipur (excluding the Imphal Municipal Council area), Assam and Nagaland and in the Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
Manipur’s human rights activist Irom Sharmila has been on an indefinite hunger strike for over 15 years, demanding the withdrawal of the act in her home state.