Press made by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju on extension of AFSPA in Arunachal Pradesh: – “The news item published in the local media states that the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh and some Organizations have claimed that they are shocked by the sudden invocation of the AFSPA in the State of Arunachal Pradesh.
In this regard it is clarified that the twenty km border belt between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh was already declared a Disturbed Area since long time due to various terrorist and insurgent groups operating in Assam. Of late, it has been observed that splinter groups of insurgents, particularly NDFB(S) and ULFA (I) have not only been using Arunachal Pradesh as a transit to Myanmar but also taking sanctuary in the bordering districts of the State with Assam beyond the 20 km belt declared disturbed along the border with Assam and as a result, Security Forces have been finding it increasingly difficult to act against them, even if they know their whereabouts.
Declaration of the districts bordering Assam, in Arunachal Pradesh, as Disturbed has been made with the sole purpose of enabling the Forces to chase and arrest these terrorists and insurgents irrespective of the distance they cover in Arunachal Pradesh for a limited period till these violent Assam based groups are neutralised. Reading anything about this measure beyond this is improper and unfortunate.
The State government does not seem to be comfortable with this measure while at the same time the State police has not proved to be effective in dealing with these terrorists. Under the circumstances, the Ministry of Home Affairs is left with no alternative but to ask the State government as to what alternative would they like so that the national and internal security is not compromised and innocent peace loving citizens of Arunachal are not unnecessarily affected.
I have directed the concerned officials of my Ministry to obtain such alternative from the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. If the State Government feels that it can effectively deal with the terrorists on its own and is not in favour of Central intervention then Ministry of Home Affairs will immediately withdraw this extension of AFSPA along with the additional forces deployed in those affected areas.”