Whereas the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958

## Report on Extension of "Disturbed Area" Declaration under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification extending the declaration of specific areas within Arunachal Pradesh as "disturbed areas" under Section 3 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958. The affected areas include the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts, and areas under the jurisdiction of the Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in the Namsai district, bordering Assam. This declaration is extended for a period of six months, effective October 1, 2022, unless withdrawn earlier. The key finding is the continuation of heightened security measures in these regions to address ongoing law and order concerns. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an overview and analysis of the Ministry of Home Affairs notification, S.O. 4623(E), dated September 30, 2022, pertaining to the declaration of "disturbed areas" in Arunachal Pradesh under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958. The analysis is based solely on the information provided in the notification. **3. Policy Overview:** * This notification is an amendment/extension of a previous notification, S.O.1551(E) dated 01.04.2022, which initially declared the specified areas as disturbed areas. * **Core Objective:** The primary objective, inferred from the text, is to maintain law and order in the specified areas of Arunachal Pradesh by continuing the application of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958. **4. Background and Rationale:** The notification states that a "further review of the law and order situation" has been undertaken in the specified areas. The extension of the "disturbed area" declaration suggests that the conditions that led to the initial declaration on April 1, 2022, persist, and that the central government deems it necessary to continue the application of AFSPA to effectively address the security challenges. The specific nature of these challenges is not detailed in the text. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification specifically details *changes* to the duration of the earlier "disturbed area" declaration. * **Specific Part Changed:** The duration/expiration date of the initial declaration under S.O.1551(E) dated 01.04.2022 is being amended. * **New Rule/Provision:** The Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and areas under the jurisdiction of the Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in the Namsai district are declared as "disturbed areas" for a further period of six months, effective October 1, 2022. * **Difference/Effect of Change:** The effect of this amendment is to extend the applicability of the AFSPA in the specified regions for another six months. This means that the armed forces continue to have enhanced powers in these areas, as defined under the AFSPA, until at least March 31, 2023, unless the declaration is withdrawn earlier. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders include: * Residents of the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh. * Residents within the jurisdiction of the Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in the Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh. * Armed forces personnel operating in these regions. * Local authorities and law enforcement agencies in the affected areas. * The State Government of Arunachal Pradesh. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency:** The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for issuing the notification and overseeing the implementation of the AFSPA in the declared "disturbed areas." The armed forces are responsible for maintaining law and order under the provisions of the Act. * **Timelines:** The extended declaration is effective from October 1, 2022, for a period of six months. This implies that the situation will be reviewed again before the end of this period. No other specific procedures are mentioned in the provided text. * The change pertains specifically to *extending* the timeline of existing implementation, indicating that existing protocols established under the original declaration will continue. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of this extension is to maintain a stable security environment in the specified areas by providing the armed forces with the necessary powers to address any ongoing or potential threats to law and order. The impact of the extension will likely be a continuation of the existing security measures and their associated effects on the local population and their activities. There may also be concerns from civil society groups regarding human rights and potential misuse of power by the armed forces, although such concerns are not mentioned explicitly in the provided text. **9. Conclusion:** The notification S.O. 4623(E) extends the "disturbed area" declaration in specific regions of Arunachal Pradesh under the AFSPA, 1958, for a further six months. This extension underscores the Government's assessment of the prevailing law and order situation in these areas and its continued reliance on AFSPA to maintain stability. The notification is significant as it directly affects the rights and freedoms of the residents in the declared "disturbed areas" and dictates the operational environment for security forces.

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