AFSPA withdrawn from Dibrugarh as state eyes second capital status

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 28, 2025

In a significant move, the Central government has withdrawn the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district, marking another step in rolling back the controversial law from the state.

Announcing the decision after a cabinet meeting at Janata Bhawan on Thursday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed the withdrawal to the improving security situation and the state government’s plan to develop Dibrugarh as Assam’s second capital.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has withdrawn AFSPA from Dibrugarh, following our request to the Union Home Minister during his visit. This aligns with our efforts to upgrade Dibrugarh as Assam’s second capital,” Sarma said.

With this, only three districts—Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Charaideo—remain under AFSPA, while all other 32 districts of Assam are now free from the law.

The move comes after AFSPA was extended in October 2023 for six months in four districts—Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, and Sivasagar—citing potential security concerns arising from disturbances in Bangladesh. However, Dibrugarh has now been removed from the “disturbed area” category.

AFSPA, which grants sweeping powers to security forces—including arrest without a warrant and immunity from prosecution—was first imposed in Assam in 1990 and has been continuously extended every six months. The Act’s gradual rollback reflects a positive shift in the state’s security landscape.

The latest decision signals Assam’s transition towards normalcy, reinforcing the government’s push for infrastructure and economic growth in Dibrugarh, which is set to play a pivotal role in the state’s future.

Japan eases travel advisory for Assam

In a boost to Assam’s tourism and investment prospects, Japan has downgraded its travel advisory for the state from Level 2 to Level 1, Sarma said.

The decision follows consistent efforts by the Assam government to improve security and promote the state as a safe travel destination.

Earlier, Australia had also lifted its travel advisory for Assam ahead of the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit, signalling growing confidence in the state’s law and order situation.

Despite these positive developments, six countries—the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Switzerland—continue to maintain travel restrictions for their citizens visiting Assam and the Northeast.

On March 25, state Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah informed the assembly that the Assam government is actively working to reverse these advisories. The Tourism Department, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, is engaging with foreign governments to ease restrictions.

“A high-level team from Australia recently visited Assam to assess the situation, and we are hopeful that more nations will revise their advisories soon,” Dass added.