AFSPA provisions extended in nine districts for six months in Nagaland ::: Also extended in Arunachal

 New Delhi

 Amid "considerable progress" in the ongoing and long pending Naga peace talks,
 the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday extended the provisions AFSPA for six more months beginning October 1 in Nagaland.

The AFSPA provisions which give ample powers to security forces would
be applicable in nine districts -- Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima,
Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Zunheboto.

It will be also applicable in regions under 16 police stations in four

other districts -- Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng and Wokha.

 Observers say three districts of Phek, Shamator and Tuensang are now

outside the

 provisions of AFSPA. In 2021 December there were strong protest

across the state

 after army personnel killed native Konyak miners in a botched up

anti-insurgency operation in Mon district.

  Areas in Nagaland falling under Khuzama. Kohima North, Kohima South,

Zubza and

  Kezocha police stations in Kohima district, Mangkolemba,

Mokokchung-1, Longtho, Tuli,

  Longchem and Anaki C police stations in Mokokchung district, Yanglok

police station

  in Longleng district and Bhandari, Champang, Ralan and Sungro police

stations in Wokha district will also fall under AFSPA and Disturbed

Areas Act.

In another notification, the centrak government said the application

of the "disturbed area" under the AFSPA will continue for six more

months from Saturday (Oct 1, 2022) in Tirap, Changlang and Longding

districts and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai and

Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh,

bordering Assam.

In some of these pockets there are substantial presence of Naga population.

 The Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh have few months back backed NNPG's

initiatives for an early solution.

 Meanwhile, the peace emissary in Naga peace talks, A K Mishra, will

meet NNPG leaders  including N Kitovi Zhimomi for the second round of

meeting since the first on Wednesday.

 "Talks are making good progress and the centre is keen for One

Agreement, One Solution," a source said.

  The reduction of jurisdiction of AFSPA came in April 2022 following

the recommendation of a high-level committee constituted to examine

the possibility of lifting of the AFSPA after the killing of 14

civilians by the Army in Mon district