Centre lifts DA tag from four more police stations
Repeal of AFSPA clear example of love and respect towards North East: Biren
Source: Chronicle News Service / Prem Mani
Imphal, March 25 2023:
The Central government has reduced areas classified as 'disturbed' under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the three North eastern states of Naga land, Assam and Manipur, with effect from April 1, 2023 .
In Manipur, the disturbed area notification under AFSPA has been withdrawn from four more police stations from the earlier 15 police stations as well as IMC areas.
According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the decision has been taken in view of the significant improvement in the security situation in the North eastern region.
The Union Home Minister said that peace has been restored in the region after several peace accords were implemented in these states in the last four years.
Meanwhile, welcoming the decision of the Central government, chief minister N Biren said that the latest decision shows the Centre's outlook towards the northeast states and called it a clear example of the love and respect that the Centre has for the NE states.
Addressing a press conference at CM's Secretariat here on Saturday, Biren said that Centre had withdrawn disturbed area status from 15 police stations in the past.
Further, the union government is withdrawing disturbed area status from four more police stations Leimakhong, Nambol, Moirang and Wangoi police stations.
Consequently, the state home department has issued a notification withdrawing disturbed area status from 19 police stations Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Lamsang, Patsoi, Porompat, Heingang, Wangoi, Leimakhong, Lamlai, Irilbung, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nambol, Moi rang, Kakching and Jiribam, with effect from April 1, 2023, he said.
The hardships faced by the people of the state under AFSPA and the struggle they had in the demand for withdrawing the Act are still fresh in the minds of the people.
Today, the BJP government led by PM Modi is withdrawing disturbed area status from several parts of the northeast states without any movement of the public and it shows the respect that the Centre has towards the region, he said.
Biren also thanked PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah for the initiative.
He also recalled how the Centre extended Inner Line Permit System in the state as a safeguard measure for the indigenous people of Manipur and how the Centre recognised the freedom struggle of Manipur and renamed Mount Harriet in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as Mount Manipur.
He also mentioned respect shown to Rani Gaidinliu and Hijam Irabot by the Centre.
Mention may be made that the disturbed area declaration under AFSPA was in opcr ation in the whole state for several decades before the former Congress government withdrew it from the Imphal Municipality areas in 2004.Later, the BJP government withdrew it from areas under the jurisdiction of 15 police stations.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that around 7,000 insurgents, belonging to various militant organisations, have joined the mainstream since 2014.It also stated that the MHA has signed several historic agreements in the past four years which have resolved the decades-old problems of the Northeastern region.
Due to the improvement in the security situation, the disturbed area notification under AFSPA was completely withdrawn from Tripura in 2015 and Meghalaya in 2018, the MHA statement stated.
The MHA statement further stated that the disturbed areas notification was in force throughout the state of Assam since 1990.The MHA said that altogether 19 police stations in seven districts of Manipur have been removed from the disturbed area notification under AFSPA.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed his gratitude for ushering in peace and positive change in the lives of the people of the Northeast.
"This decision has been taken in view of the significant improvement in the security situation in Northeast India.
Prioritizing the security, peace and development of the Northeast was done for the first time under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a result of it; the region today is rapidly heading on the path of peace and development," Shah said.
"I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Modiji for bringing this positive change in the lives of the people of Northeast and connecting the region with the hearts of rest of India and I greet the people of Northeast on this momentous occasion," he added.
As compared to the year 2014, there is a reduction of 76 per cent in extremist activities in 2022.Similarly, the deaths of security personnel and civilians have come down by 90 per cent and 97 per cent respectively during this period.
Comment
