Introduction
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), enacted in 1958, is one of India’s most controversial laws, conferring sweeping powers on the armed forces in areas declared "disturbed" by the government. While intended to address insurgency and maintain public order, its implementation has led to the militarization of Indigenous territories, the labeling of Indigenous people as terrorists, and widespread allegations of extrajudicial killings and violence against rights defenders.
