Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is an act of the Indian Parliament that gives the military special powers to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”.
The act came into effect in 1958 and applies to the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
The AFSPA gives the military, para-military, and other security forces the power to:
- Use force, including lethal force, against people who violate the law or are suspected of doing so
- Arrest people without a warrant
- Enter or search premises without a warrant
- Shoot to kill
- Search houses
- Destroy any property that is “likely” to be used by insurgents
