Agartala: The Armed Forces (Special Power) Act had been withdraw by Tripura government with immediate effect. The present six-month term of the Act is all set to expire this month.
The cabinet of Chief Minister Manik Sarkar after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday had withdrawn the two-decade-old AFSPA from the state with immediate effect.
The CM said, “Insurgency has come down to near zero in the state. The demand for withdrawing the Act had been made at various levels. But we could not take the final decision as the security forces did not give the final go ahead.”
AFSPA was promulgated in the state on February 16, 1997, owing to the relentless violence and bloodshed during the period.
Following the provisions of the Act, it was reviewed and extended every six months for the last 18 years.
Manik Sarkar said, “Recently, when the proposal of further extension of AFSPA came up for discussion, we sought report from all departments concerned about law and order and militant activities. Finally, the security agencies have agreed to the proposal of withdrawing the Act.”
Initially, AFSPA was promulgated across two-third of the police station areas in the state but gradually its extent was reduced with improving situation.
At present, AFSPA is operational fully in 26 police station areas and partially in four police station areas out of 74 police stations and 36 out posts of Tripura.
Bureau Report
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