Rijiju clarifies on AFSPA in Arunachal Pradesh
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 10 2015 :
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has issued a clarification with regard to the extension of Armed Forces Special Powers' Act (AFSPA) in Arunachal Pradesh.
Reacting to local media that the Arunachal Pradesh Government and some organisations had expressed shock by the sudden invocation of AFSPA in the State, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs in a statement issued through PIB clarified that 20 km border belt between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh was already declared a Disturbed Area since long time due to various "terrorist and insurgent groups" operating in Assam.
Kiren Rijiju further stated that splinter groups of insurgents, particularly NDFB(S) and ULFA (I) have not only been using Arunachal Pradesh as a transit to Myanmar but also taking sanctuary in the bordering districts of the State with Assam beyond the 20 km belt declared disturbed along the border with Assam.