Assam: Himanta Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, proclaimed on Monday that the state government is aiming to completely revoke the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) by the end of 2023.
The Assam CM said in his speech, “AFSPA will be lifted from the entire state by November. This will facilitate the replacement of CAPFs by Assam Police Battalions. However, the presence of CAPFs as required by law shall be in place.”
“We are aiming at withdrawing AFSPA completely from Assam by the end of 2023. We will also rope in ex-military personnel to train our police force,” tweeted Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The Assam CM made the announcements at the Commandant’s Conference, which was held on May 22.
The Centre revoked the AFSPA’s Disturbed Areas Notice from the whole state of Assam last year, but its application continued in about nine districts and one subdivision of another district. AFSPA’s jurisdiction has now been limited to only eight districts within Assam.
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) empowers the armed forces with special authorities, which can be invoked by either the central government or the state’s governor to declare an entire state or certain parts of it “disturbed.”
The AFSPA has frequently been put into practise in areas that are struggling with militancy. AFSPA has also been criticised by many politicians and has been called draconian.