AGARTALA, May 28 � In the wake of significant improvement in the overall law and order situation in Tripura over the past few years, the State Government has decided to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA), very shortly.
The Council of Ministers has already cleared the proposal of rolling back the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act-1958 following a green signal from the State police.
Speaking to media at the Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said after a major change in the law and order situation, the State Government had asked the police to explore feasibility of withdrawing the AFSPA. �The police, after studying all aspects, suggested there will be no adverse impact in the law and order situation if the Act is rolled back.
Following persistent demand by the armed forces, the State Government had to propose to enforce AFSPA before the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Of the total 74 police stations, 26 police stations were brought under the Act while it is enforced in parts of four other police stations. After the Cabinet decision, the Act would be withdrawn from the State very shortly.
According to security analysts, the decision of withdrawing AFSPA involves no risk right now with the militant outfits like NLFT and ATTF struggling for their existence. � Correspondent