Assam Monitors Odisha Train Derailment, CM Assures Aid
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that his administration is actively monitoring the train derailment involving the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express in Odisha's Cuttack.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday that the Union government has withdrawn the ‘disturbed area’ tag from Dibrugarh, effectively lifting the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the district.
With this, AFSPA remains in force in only three districts—Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Charaideo.
Advertisement
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Sarma stated, “The whole of Assam was once under AFSPA, but over time, the Centre has withdrawn the act in a phased manner. We have requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to lift AFSPA entirely from the state, and the removal from Dibrugarh is a step in that direction. We expect further revocations in the next review meeting.”
Advertisement
AFSPA, enacted in 1958, grants the armed forces sweeping powers to conduct operations, make arrests without warrants, and use force against suspected insurgents in areas classified as “disturbed.” The Act was imposed across Assam in 1990 due to heightened insurgent activity. However, in recent years, improved law and order conditions, peace deals with militant groups, and declining insurgency-related violence have led to its gradual rollback.
The first major revocation of AFSPA in Assam took place in April 2022, when it was removed from 23 districts and partially withdrawn from one district. Subsequent reviews have further reduced its footprint, with Dibrugarh now being the latest to exit the list.
Advertisement
Related posts
Assam journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder released from jail
Senior journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, Chief Reporter of the digital news portal The Crosscurrent, walked free from Guwahati Central Jail on Saturday after securing bail in the second case against him.
Assam Government Announces Electricity Tariff Reduction
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a reduction of Rs 1 per unit in electricity tariffs in the state, effective from April 1.
