New Delhi: India’s Union Home Ministry on Monday announced to revoke the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from North-Eastern region of Meghalaya. The AFSPA is also removed from 8 police stations of Arunachal Pradesh.
Till September 2017, 40 per cent of Meghalaya was under AFSPA. However, after recent review in consultations with the state government, AFSPA was removed completly from Meghalaya, a MHA statement said.
Similarly, AFSPA is now applicable only in 8 police stations in Arunachal, down from 16 police stations in 2017.
The AFSPA, which grants blanket impunity to armed forces of the Indian state, is considered to be source of massive human rights abuses by Indian armed forces.
The AFSPA is also enforced in Manipur and Jammu & Kashmir.