After 32 years, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gives sweeping powers to security forces, was partially removed from three of nine districts in Arunachal Pradesh, but would remain in force in the areas bordering Myanmar, officials said.

The state, which was formed on February 20, 1987, had inherited AFSPA enacted by Parliament in 1958 and applied to the state of Assam and the Union territory of Manipur.

After Arunachal, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland came into being, the Act was appropriately adapted to apply to these states.

The Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy committee had recommended the scrapping of AFSPA from the state. Under the Act, security forces can arrest anyone or carry out searches anywhere.

The Union home ministry said in a notification that four police station areas in Arunachal Pradesh, which were declared “disturbed areas” under AFSPA, are no longer under the purview of the special law from March 31.

The areas from where AFSPA has been withdrawn are Balemu and Bhalukpong police stations in West Kameng district, Seijosa police station in East Kameng district and Balijan police station in Papumpare district.

However, according to the notification, AFSPA will continue to be enforced in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts and areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district, Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district and Sunpura in Lohit district until September 30.

A home ministry official said the “disturbed area” tag was withdrawn from the four police station areas due to the improvement of the law and order situation and it will continue in other areas in view of continuing activities of banned insurgent groups of the Northeast.

A review of the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh’s six districts was undertaken before the March 31 deadline for the validity of the “disturbed area” designation under AFSPA.

In March last year, AFSPA was removed completely from Meghalaya following an improvement in the security situation.

AFSPA is imposed in areas where armed forces are required to operate in aid of civil authorities. For AFSPA to become valid, an area, however, needs to be declared disturbed either by the Central or the state government under Section 3 of the 1958 Act.

Some parts of Arunachal Pradesh has the presence of banned militant outfits such as NSCN, ULFA and NDFB, an official said.