AFSPA withdrawn from Tripura after 18 years

Agartala: The Tripura government on Wednesday decided to lift Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from the state, where the controversial law was in effect for the last 18 years to curb insurgency.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is also the Home Minister of the state said this decision was taken in the meeting of the council of ministers during the day.

"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 is no requirement of the Act now as the insurgency problem has largely been contained. We would soon issue gazette notification in this regard," Sarkar told reporters.

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

"When the Act was imposed there were only 42 police stations and two-third of the entire 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 partly under this Act till recently," he added.