AFSPA likely to be fully lifted from Assam by yr-end: CM

GUWAHATI: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 (AFSPA) is likely to be completely withdrawn from the state by the year-end as the situation in the state is constantly improving.
The controversial act is in force in eight districts-Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, bordering Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland and one sub-division, Lakhipur of Cachar district bordering Manipur.The state government had withdrawn the act from 23 districts and one sub-division from April 1 last year.
On November 27, 1990, the entire state was declared disturbed area and was brought under AFSPA. Since then, it has been extended seven times. In September 2017, the Centre delegated the power to Assam as well as Manipur to impose or withdraw AFSPA from their respective states.
Elsewhere in the region, AFSPA is no longer in force in Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Barring three districts, the act is not in force in Arunachal Pradesh and in areas under 15 police stations each in Manipur and Nagaland.
Addressing the first ever conference of the commandants at Police Training Centre in Dergaon on Monday Sarma said, "With the continuous improvement of situation in the state, AFSPA will likely be lifted from the entire state by the end of this year. In such a situation, Assam Police battalions would be empowered to replace Central Armed Police Forces other than the number of CPAFs whose presence is mandatory in the state as per law. Henceforth, steps will be taken for posting very good and professional police officers as commandants."
Underlining the importance of training in shaping the professionalism and readiness of the police personnel, Sarma said retired army officers will be appointed in the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police to impart training.
"The officer would be in charge of a rigorous training regimen to help the police personnel to meet the changing dynamics of commission of crimes," he said.
Delivering his introductory speech, Sarma said that considering the important role played by the commandants and the Assam Police Battalions, the commandants' conference will be organised every six month.
"This will be done to bring about positive changes in the rank and file of the battalions and give a more result-oriented police force to the state," he said.
The CM said that steps will be taken to ensure that there is positive change in the mindset of the forces of the battalions to make them feel that commandants and forces belonging to different battalions are integral part of the police forces in Assam.
"They will also be reoriented to control the mob without using lethal weapons or using them to the minimum extent possible," he said.
Every battalion will now develop its specific motto to help each battalion to imbibe the motto and learn to dedicate them for the service of the state and its people. Sarma said that every battalion should celebrate its raising day with adequate opportunity for the wards of police personnel in the battalion to showcase their talents.
He said the government will take steps to ensure that every battalion has a good school inside its premises where other than the services of the appointed teachers, service of the good and talented police personnel posted in the battalions will be used. All the battalions have good housing colonies to give housing satisfaction to the police personnel. The government will also hold Assam Police Meet encompassing sports and cultural activities of the police personnel in the month of November this year in Dergaon.