3.Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri
5.United Nations General Assembly
What is AFSPA
Why is it in NEWS ?
Recently it has been imposed in Manipur.
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a law enacted by the Parliament of India that grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces and the Central armed police forces deployed in “disturbed areas”. These powers include:
- Power to arrest without warrant
- Power to search any premises without warrant
- Power to stop and search any person
- Power to use force or even open fire after giving due warning if they feel a person is in contravention of the law
- Power to destroy any property that is “likely” to be used by insurgents
AFSPA has been in force in various parts of India, including the Northeast, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab, at different times. It is currently in force in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland.
The AFSPA has been controversial since its inception, with critics arguing that it gives the armed forces too much power and violates human rights. Proponents of the law argue that it is necessary to maintain law and order in disturbed areas and to protect the armed forces from legal action.
In recent years, there have been growing demands for the repeal of AFSPA, especially from civil society groups and human rights activists. In 2022, the Indian government announced that it would reduce the area under AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur. However, the law remains in force in parts of these states.
