AFSPA Withdrawn from Assam’s Dibrugarh, Now in Force in Three Districts: CM Sarma

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been withdrawn from Dibrugarh district, reducing its enforcement to only three districts in the state.

Addressing a press conference, Sarma stated that AFSPA remains in force in Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Charaideo districts. The law grants security forces special powers to conduct operations and make arrests without prior warrants while providing them with certain legal immunity.

“We had requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to lift the ‘disturbed area’ tag from Dibrugarh as we plan to develop it as the second capital of the state. He considered our request, and the Centre has issued a notification in this regard,” the Chief Minister said.

Sarma said that AFSPA has been withdrawn from 32 districts of Assam and expressed hope that it would soon be removed from the remaining three.