The Tripura government on Wednesday decided to lift the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from the state. The controversial law was in effect for the last 18 years to curb insurgency in the state.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is also the Home Minister of the state said this decision was taken in the meeting of the council of ministers during the day.
We have reviewed the situation of the disturbed areas of the state after every six months and also discussed the issue with the state police and other security forces working in the state.
– Manik Sarkar, Tripura CM
“They suggested that there is no requirement of the Act now as the insurgency problem has largely been contained. We would soon issue a gazette notification in this regard,” Sarkar told reporters.
This Act was imposed in the state on February 16, 1997 following a spurt of violence by the ultras.
Sarkar also said, “When the Act was imposed there were only 42 police stations and two-third of the entire police station areas were under this act. The number of police station areas at present are 74. Till now, 26 police stations were fully under the Act and and four came partly under it”.
(With inputs from PTI)
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