The Union home ministry on Friday extended for six months the “disturbed area” status in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.

According to two separate notifications, the decisions have been taken after review of the law-and-order situation in both the states.

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The AFSPA gives armed forces personnel, operating in disturbed areas, sweeping powers to search, arrest, and to open fire if they deem it necessary for “maintenance of public order”.

The home ministry said the central government in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the AFSPA 1958 (28 of 1958) had declared the Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam as ‘disturbed area’ on September 30, 2022.

One more police station area has been brought under the ambit of the AFSPA through the fresh notification.

“And whereas a further review of the law and order situation in the state of Arunachal Pradesh has been undertaken. Now, therefore, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the state of Assam, are declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2023, unless withdrawn earlier,” one of the notifications said.

In the other notification, the home ministry said the central government in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958 (28 of 1958) had declared nine districts and 16 police stations in four other districts of Nagaland as ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from October 1, 2022.

It said, now, the disturbed area status will be applicable in eight districts and 21 police stations areas falling under five other districts.

“And whereas a further review of the law and order situation in the state of Nagaland has been undertaken. Now, therefore, Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren districts in Nagaland and the areas in Nagaland falling within the jurisdiction of i) Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima District; ii) Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki ‘C’ police stations in Mokokchung District; iii) Yanglok police station in Longleng District; iv) Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations in Wokha District; and v) Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto District, are declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2023, unless withdrawn earlier,” the notification said.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police have registered a case under several penal provisions, including India’s anti-terror law, against people involved in a violent protest by pro-Khalistan groups outside the Indian high commission in London during which an activist pulled down the national flag.

The case was registered by the city police’s special cell, which investigates terrorist activities, a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity on Friday. The first information report (FIR) was registered on the directions of the Union home ministry, which asked police to take legal action on the basis of a report received from the external affairs ministry about the protest on March 19.

The FIR invoked provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

People familiar with the matter said the action was taken after authorities in London identified some Indian nationals allegedly involved in the protest. In this context, authorities invoked provisions of UAPA related to action on foreign soil that threaten the security and sovereignty of India and that damage or destroy property in a foreign country used for any purposes of the Indian government or its agencies, the people said.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a regular media briefing that an “incident report” on Sunday’s protest outside the Indian high commission in London had been shared with relevant agencies. “Now it is up to the law enforcement agencies to do what they feel they can do about it,” he said.

Asked about UK foreign minister James Cleverly’s comments about steps being taken to ensure the security of the Indian mission, Bagchi said: “We are not interested in just assurances, I think we would like to see action.”

The Indian side has raised concerns related to the security of missions with authorities in Australia, Canada and the UK over the past few weeks. Bagchi said the vandalisation of the Indian mission in London and the consulate in San Francisco had been strongly taken up with the UK and the US.

“We expect host governments will take action to identify and prosecute all those involved and take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. We would hope host governments provide full and adequate protection to our missions as well as to the personnel working there,” he said.

Besides lodging strong diplomatic protests, the Indian side reduced security around the British high commission and the envoy’s official residence in Delhi this week.

Bagchi declined to comment on the cancellation of an event in Canada’s British Columbia province, which was to be attended by the Indian envoy, because of a violent protest by pro-Khalistan activists on Sunday. “It is our expectation that in any country, our diplomats can perform their legitimate and normal diplomatic duties and functions and that the host government will ensure a conducive environment for doing so,” he said.

The protest in London on March 19 began hours after Punjab Police launched a statewide manhunt against pro-Khalistani separatist preacher Amritpal Singh and his followers, arresting nearly 100 people after suspending mobile internet and text messaging services across the state. Singh, who was accused in eight FIRs of abduction, inciting violence and disturbing social harmony, is linked to the Khalistani secessionist movement and is chief of Waris Punjab De.

The people cited above have said recent protests by pro-Khalistan elements in Australia, Canada, the UK and the US appeared to be coordinated. These were accompanied by posts on social media in these countries making unsubstantiated claims about a crackdown in Punjab and the oppression of Sikhs.

Bagchi also referred to remarks by foreign parliamentarians and leaders on the situation in Punjab and said authorities in the state are conducting an operation to nab a fugitive. “Information regarding that operation is being shared by authorities in Punjab regularly. We would urge people abroad not to be taken in by inaccurate and motivated narratives that are being circulated by some elements on social media,” he added.

A Delhi Police officer said the special cell is gathering information about people linked to Amritpal Singh. “Last week, one Daljit Singh Kalsi was arrested in Gurugram on the instructions of NIA. This close aide of Singh left his residence in the Punjabi Bagh area in 2016. He got ₹35 crore from abroad in the last two years and his phone records show he made multiple calls to Pakistan,” the second officer alleged. Kalsi, considered to be Singh’s fundraiser, is among seven people taken into custody and shifted to Assam’s Dibrugarh over the past week.

India would like to see action, more than just assurance, the Ministry of External Affairs said on the vandalism of Indian missions in various countries by Khalistanis, adding that he hoped that foreign governments will act against and prosecute those involved.

Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, to a question on the vandalism of the Indian High Commission in London and the Indian High Consulate in San Fransisco, said, “On the issues of security, whenever we feel there is an issue relating to the security of our missions abroad high commissions and embassies, this issue is taken up. Whenever we have concerns where we feel that there will be some activities that may harm our interests, we do take it up.”

“You would have seen specifically in London and at least in San Francisco, we’ve strongly taken up the matter of vandalism and attacks on our missions there. You would have also seen our statements in this regard,” he added.

Bagchi further stated that India expects the host governments to take action to identify and prosecute all those involved and also take necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. He also hoped that the government would provide full and adequate protection to Indian missions as well as to the personnel working there.

“I think that’s probably what your question was, assurance… Yes. Look, on that element we just say look, I think we are not interested in just assurances. I think we would like to see action. That’s why I would leave it at that,” the MEA spokesperson added.

Earlier, on March 19, a pro-Khalistan protestor in London climbed the High Commission of India’s balcony and pulled down the national flag.

A video of the same incident had gone viral on social video. In the now-viral video, the Khalistani protestor is seen on the balcony attempting to bring down the Indian flag. At the end of the video, another man is seen reaching the balcony and wresting the Tricolour back from the Khalistan supporter.

Khalistan supporters also allegedly attacked Indian Consulate in San Francisco (SFO). Videos of supporters breaking the doors and barging into the office surfaced on social media.

Though visuals of the vandalism at the San Francisco consulate have been doing the rounds of social media, the incident is yet to be confirmed by Indian officials.

While the visuals confirmed that the incident happened at the consulate, the date could not be ascertained.

Visuals shared online show a sizeable mob brandishing Khalistan flags and mounted on wooden poles, using them to smash glass doors and windows of the consulate building. Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, they broke through makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two Khalistani flags inside the premises.