Tripura lifts armed forces special powers act

Agartala: The Tripura government on Wednesday decided to lift the Armed Forces Special Power Act or AFSPA from the state. The controversial law has been in effect for the last 18 years to curb insurgency in the state.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, also the Home Minister of the state, said this decision was taken at a meeting of the council of ministers which was held, yesterday.

"We have reviewed the situation of the disturbed areas of the state after every six months and also discussed the issue with the state police and other security forces working in the state."

"They suggested that there was no



requirement of the Act now as the insurgency problem has largely been contained. We would soon issue gazette notification in this regard," Mr Sarkar told reporters.

This Act was imposed in the state on February 16, 1997 following a spurt of violence by the ultras.

"When the Act was imposed there were only 42 police stations and two-third of the police station areas were under this act."

"The number of police station areas at present are 74 and out of 74 police stations 26 police stations were fully and four police stations were partly under this Act until some time ago," he added.