The Assam Government on Thursday extended the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in eight districts and one sub-division for six months after a review of the law and order situation.

However, the state government has withdrawn the law from West Karbi Anglong district as the situation has considerably improved in the region.

The six-month extension of AFSPA is effective from October 1, Home and Political Department Principal Secretary Niraj Verma said in an order.

This order, dated October 15 and released on Thursday, stated that nine districts and one sub-division were kept under the AFSPA since April 1 as a “disturbed area” after withdrawing the legislation from the rest of the state.

“A review of the law and order and security scenario in Assam in the recent past indicates that the situation has considerably improved in West Karbi Anglong district of the state. The Governor of Assam is pleased to withdraw the declaration of ‘Disturbed Area’ with effect from 01.10.2022 from West Karbi Anglong”, the order said.

Districts that continue to be disturbed areas are Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao besides, Lakhipur sub-division of Cachar in the Barak Valley.

The state government has been extending the law every six months since its enforcement on November 1990.

AFSPA allows security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without prior warrant. It also gives a certain level of immunity to security forces in case any operation, goes wrong.

Civil society groups and rights activists have been demanding the withdrawal of the “draconian law” from the entire North East, claiming a violation of human rights by the armed forces.

The clamor to repeal the controversial law gained momentum after the death of 14 civilians in firing by security forces in a botched anti-insurgency operation and retaliatory violence in the Mon district of Nagaland on December 4, 2021.