AFSPA will be completely lifted from the state: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will be completely lifted from the state.Sarma said: “In Assam, the AFSPA has been scrapped from many districts already. The law and order situation of the state has improved largely and soon the Act will be completely lifted from the entire Assam.” He said, “With the support of the Prime Minister, I hope that border disputes in the northeast will be completely solved.

We have been moving in that direction,” he added. Sarma on Tuesday while addressing 77th Independence Day Celebrations said that there will be no sub-division system in the state adding that, “Sub-districts will be formed in each constituency.

All the important departments will be within these sub-districts. Sarma earlier had said that Assam Police must examine how Indian Army personnel can be freed up from the State by completely withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act AFSPA is now in operation in eight districts of Assam.

In March this year the Assam government had withdrawn the coverage of disturbed area from the Lakhipur sub division under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. AFSPA gives immunity to the armed forces.

In Assam, these special powers for search and seizure were announced in 1990. In April last year, AFSPA was completely removed from 23 districts and partially from one district of the state.