AFSPA in Nagaland

  • Declaring Nagalandas a “disturbed area”, the Centre in June 2021 extended the operation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state for six more months.
  • The Centre is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of the state of Nagaland is in “disturbed and dangerous” condition.
  • The AFSPA has been in force in Nagaland for several decades.
  • The legislation granting security forces sweeping powers was not withdrawn even after the 2015 framework agreement signed by Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM and central government’s interlocutor RN Ravi.
  • The agreement was hailed as historic since it was signed as a result of 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years. The first ceasefire agreement between the Government of India and Naga insurgent groups was signed in 1997.
  • NSCN-IM claimed that the Centre had promised “shared sovereignity” as part of the 2015 agreement.