Eastern Army Commander Lt. General R. P. Kalita on November 1 said more and more areas still covered by Armed Forces (Special Power) Act (AFSPA) will be de-notified as and when violence parameters come down to an acceptable level in those places.
AFSPA extended in four States as uncertainty remains over Naga peace talks
Kalita, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, said there has been considerable drop in violence in the last nine months in the insurgency-affected areas of the northeast leading to denotification of AFSPA from certain areas.
He said peace and development have been ushering in these places. "This has been possible only due to sacrifice that has been made by the Indian Armed forces in ensuring that violence parameters are brought down to an acceptable level," he said while speaking to media persons after a wreath laying ceremony on the occasion of Raising Day of headquarter of Eastern Army Command.
To a question on whether there are plans to withdraw AFSPA from pockets in the northeast where it still remains operational, he said the situation remains dynamic.
Explained | The partial rollback of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act
"As violence parameters come down ... more and more areas will find denotification taking place," he said, adding that this will depend on the local police being able to ensure maintenance of law and order, a call that has to be taken by a State government in consultation with the Centre.
The AFSPA was withdrawn from several places in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur from April 1 this year. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on October 31 that his government is considering withdrawing AFSPA from two more locations in the State.
