Whereas the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces

## Report on Amendment to Declaration of Disturbed Areas in Arunachal Pradesh **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, declaring certain areas in Arunachal Pradesh as "disturbed areas" under Section 3 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958. This notification amends a previous notification (S.O. 1440(E) dated 01.04.2021) to extend the "disturbed area" status from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, and specifically includes additional police station jurisdictions. The report details the affected areas, the likely rationale behind the amendment (based on the limited text), and the potential impact on stakeholders. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative overview of the Ministry of Home Affairs notification declaring specific areas in Arunachal Pradesh as "disturbed areas" under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, based solely on the provided text. This report focuses specifically on understanding the *changes* introduced by this notification. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Amendment:** This notification amends the previous notification S.O. 1440(E) dated 01.04.2021. * **Core Objective(s):** Based on the text, the core objective is to maintain law and order in specific areas of Arunachal Pradesh by invoking the powers conferred by the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958. This is achieved by designating these areas as "disturbed" allowing for increased deployment and powers of armed forces. **4. Background and Rationale:** This notification amends a previous declaration. The rationale for this *specific amendment* appears to be a "further review of the law and order situation" in the initially declared areas. The inclusion of additional police station jurisdictions suggests a potential worsening or spreading of the conditions warranting the "disturbed area" designation in those areas specifically. The fact that this is a time-limited extension suggests the government views the situation as requiring temporary measures. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification introduces the following key changes to the original declaration: * **Specific Part Changed:** The notification amends the scope of areas designated as "disturbed" under the original S.O. 1440(E) notification. * **New Rule/Provision:** The areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the State of Assam, are now *also* declared as "disturbed area." This means the AFSPA is now applicable in these additional regions. * **Difference/Effect of Change:** The amendment expands the geographical area under the purview of the AFSPA. This grants armed forces increased powers in these newly included areas, similar to the powers they already had in the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment include: * Residents of the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh. * Residents of the Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, specifically those residing within the jurisdiction of the Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations. * Law enforcement agencies operating in the affected areas. * The Armed Forces of India. * Businesses and industries operating in the affected areas may face disruptions or increased security measures. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for issuing the notification. Law enforcement agencies and the Armed Forces are responsible for implementing the AFSPA in the declared "disturbed areas." * **Timelines:** The amendment is effective from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, unless withdrawn earlier. This establishes a clear timeframe for the amended declaration. * **Specific to the changes:** Implementation involves the immediate application of AFSPA within the jurisdictions of the Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of this amendment is to strengthen law and order in the Namsai and Mahadevpur police station areas by granting increased powers to the armed forces. Potential impacts of this specific change include: * Increased security presence and operations in Namsai and Mahadevpur. * Potential for increased scrutiny and restrictions on civilian activities in these areas. * Potential for human rights concerns due to the increased powers of the armed forces. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment to the notification declaring certain areas in Arunachal Pradesh as "disturbed areas" under the AFSPA, 1958, signifies a continuation and expansion of government efforts to manage law and order in the region. The inclusion of the Namsai and Mahadevpur police station jurisdictions highlights a perceived need for enhanced security measures in these specific areas. The limited text prevents a deeper analysis of the situation and the specific reasons for this extension. Further investigation into the law and order situation in the region is necessary for a complete understanding.

Key Entities Referenced