NEW DELHI: The Centre has declared entire Nagaland as a "disturbed area" as it finds that a "dangerous condition" prevails in the state and armed forces should assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order.
In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said that it was of the opinion that the whole state of Nagaland is in such a disturbed or dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of civil power is necessary. "Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958, the central government hereby declares that whole of the said state to be a disturbed area for a period of one year with effect from June 30, 2015 for the purpose of the Act," Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Shambu Singh said in the notification.
The decision came almost a month after NSCN-K, the dominant Naga rebel group, attacked an army convoy in Manipur's Chandel district and killed 18 soldiers. Subsequently, army commandos carried out an attack in the camps of militants inside Myanmar.
Sources said the declaration of 'disturbed area' in Nagaland was nothing new as the government had to extend it as it was about to lapse.