What is AFSPA Law? After the Nagaland incident, there is a controversy over why; Learn

The controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA) Act, 1958, once again in the headlines after 14 villagers were shot dead due to mistaken identity in an operation by Para Forces in Nagaland's MON district on Saturday evening. has brought.

 The controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) has once again been in the limelight after 14 villagers were shot dead due to mistaken identity in an operation by Para Forces in Nagaland 's MON district on Saturday evening. has brought. On Saturday, 14 villagers and a soldier were killed when an army operation to trace the rebels failed in Nagaland. In a police FIR, it has been said that the 21 Para Special Forces of the Army started firing indiscriminately. The Chief Ministers of Nagaland and Meghalaya are demanding the withdrawal of this Act. There is a coalition government of BJP in both the places.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said, "AFSPA gives the military the right to arrest civilians, raid homes and kill people without an arrest warrant, but does not give the authority to take any action against security forces. They violated law and order." situation has been created."

What is AFSPA?

AFSPA empowers the armed forces to maintain public order in "disturbed areas". It also allows the armed forces to use force or even fire at a person found violating the law after warning him. 

A "disturbed area" is one where "the use of armed forces in aid of civilian power is necessary". Under Section 3 of the AFSPA, any area may be declared disturbed due to differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities. The power to declare any area as "disturbed" was initially with the states, but passed to the Center in 1972.

The Act also allows the forces to arrest, enter and search any premises without an arrest warrant.

Apart from Jammu and Kashmir, the controversial law is applicable in parts of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (except seven assembly constituencies of Imphal) and Arunachal Pradesh. Parts of Tripura and Meghalaya were left out of the list.

The AFSPA also protects the security forces from legal proceedings unless cleared by the Centre. In the context of the Nagaland violence and killings, there are concerns that the Center may cite the law to shield the Army's 21 Para Special Forces from investigation.