Sarkari Naukri

31 December 2021 Current Affairs:Under the AFSPA Act, the central government declared all of Nagaland a “disturbed area” for another six months on 30 December.

Highlights:

• Beginning December 30, 2021, this declaration will be in effect.
• The state’s situation has also been described as “disturbed and dangerous” by the government.
• This decision came just days after the central government formed a high-level committee to investigate the possibility of removing the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Nagaland.
• For decades, AFSPA has operated in Nagaland. The central government believes that the entire state of Nagaland is in such a chaotic and dangerous state that the use of armed forces to assist the civil power is necessary.
• The central government used Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 to declare the entire state of Nagaland a “disturbed area.”
• A disturbed area is one where “the use of armed forces in aid of civil power is required.” Section 3 of the AFSPA allows any area to be designated as a disturbed area.

Panel’s Recommendation

• This decision was made in response to a panel’s recommendation to look into the possibility of withdrawing the AFSPA. 
• Piyush Goyal, additional secretary in the Home Ministry, issued the notification to extend AFSPA. He has also been appointed as the panel’s member secretary. 
• Vivek Joshi, a secretary-level officer, is in charge of the Panel. A panel was formed to defuse the rising tensions in Nagaland as a result of the deaths of 14 civilians.
• The Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958 empowers the military to keep the peace in “disturbed areas.” 
• Armed forces are authorized to use force or even open fire after warning a person who is found to be breaking the law under this act.