"After Proper Investigation": Centre On Removing Controversial Law AFSPA

The Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, or AFSPA, gives immense powers to the military to operate freely anywhere that has been declared a "disturbed area"

A law that gives sweeping powers to the military and protects soldiers from legal prosecution would be removed from disturbed areas only after a thorough investigation and observation, the centre has said.

Junior Home Minister Ajay Mishra Teni during a visit to Meghalaya's capital Shillong yesterday evening spoke on the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, or AFSPA, and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, which promises citizenship to refugees who came to India before 2014 from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh but not if they are Muslims.

The AFSPA gives immense powers to the military to operate freely anywhere that has been declared a "disturbed area"; no military personnel in an area where AFSPA is in force can be prosecuted without the centre's sanction.

In recent times, Nagaland has been demanding removal of the law after 14 men were killed in two separate firing incidents by the army in connection with a botched operation by special forces in December last year.