Guwahati, March 28 -- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that the Union government has withdrawn the 'disturbed area' tag from Dibrugarh, effectively lifting the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the district.

With this, AFSPA remains in force in only three districts-Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Charaideo.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati here on Thursday, Sarma stated, "The whole of Assam was once under AFSPA, but over time, the Centre has withdrawn the act in a phased manner. We have requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to lift AFSPA entirely from the state, and the removal from Dibrugarh is a step in that direction. We expect further revocations in the next review meeting."

AFSPA, enacted in 19...