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What is the full form of AFSPA?
The full form of AFSPA is “Armed Forces Special Powers Act“. AFSPA is an act of the Parliament of India that grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces and the state and paramilitary forces in areas classified as “disturbed areas”. The power to declare a territory “disturbed” initially lay with the states, but passed to the Centre in 1972. Supreme Court said that any encounter carried out by armed forces in the garb of AFSPA should be subjected to thorough inquiry. The Supreme Court has recently directed the CBI to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged cases of extra-judicial killings in Manipur.
What is Armed Forces Special Powers Act?
Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was enacted by Parliament on September 11, 1958. It was first implemented in the Northeast India, and then in Punjab and Chandigarh which was withdrawn in 1997 roughly 14 years after it came to force. In September 1990, Parliament passed the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, which was “deemed to have come into force” retrospectively from July 5, 1990. AFSPA gives powers to the army, state and central police forces to shoot to kill, search houses and destroy any property that is “likely” to be used by insurgents in areas declared as “disturbed” by the home ministry.
Which states are under Armed Forces Special Powers Act?
Following Indian states are under AFSFA Act:
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Tripura
- Jammu and Kashmir
