Govt. may lift AFSPA in 4 States after Naga peace pact

#GS-03 Internal Security

About AFSPA:

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces and the state and paramilitary forces in areas classified as “disturbed areas.”
AFSPA allows armed forces to open fire, even causing death, against any person in violation of the law or carrying arms and ammunition.
It gives them powers to arrest individuals without warrants, because of “reasonable suspicion,” and search premises without warrants.
Currently, AFSPA remains in force in parts of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur as well as in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
It can be imposed by the Centre or the Governor of a state, on the state or parts of it, after these areas are declared “disturbed’’ under Section 3.
The 1972 amendment allows the Central government and the States to declare an area as “disturbed”.
The Union Home Ministry issues periodic “disturbed area” notification to extend AFSPA only for Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
The notification for Manipur and Assam is issued by the State governments.
The Act gives powers to the central government to unilaterally impose AFSPA without consultation with the state government.
While the Act gives powers to security forces to open fire, they must give prior warning to the suspect.
As per the act, once the suspects are apprehended, the security forces must hand them over to the local police station within 24 hours.

The Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act, 1958, was enacted as a successor to the Assam Disturbed Areas Act of 1955 to deal with the uprising in the Naga Hills and adjoining areas.
The Act was replaced by the AFSPA for so that it may apply to a wider area. A similar Act specific to Jammu and Kashmir was enacted in 1990.
The AFSPA was first revoked from 60% of Assam on April 1, 2022.

To know more about Naga peace process click here