There has been considerable reduction in ‘disturbed areas’ under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, stated the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

The application of the Act has been removed from most parts of the North Eastern States since 2014, as per the details given below:

Tripura:  completely withdrawn with effect from 27.05.2015

Meghalaya: completely withdrawn with effect from 1.04.2018

Assam: completely withdrawn from all the districts except 4

Arunachal Pradesh: withdrawn gradually and now applicable only in 3 Police Station areas in Namsai district and 3 other districts i.e., Tirap, Changlang and Longding

Manipur: withdrawn from 19 Police Station areas in 7 districts

Nagaland: withdrawn partly and now applicable only in 8 districts and 21 Police Station areas in 5 other districts.

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According to the Minister, the security situation in the North Eastern States has seen significant improvement since 2014. Compared to 2014, there has been 71 percent reduction in insurgency incidents, 60 percent decrease in the number of Security Forces personnel deaths and 82 percent decrease in civilian fatalities in 2023, informed Rai.