(1) Except as provided by sub-section (2), no trial by an Assam Rifles Court of any person subject to this Act for any offence shall be commenced after the expiration of a period of three years and such period shall commence—
         (a) on the date of the offence; or
         (b) where the commission of the offence was not known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to the authority competent to initiate action, from the first day on which such offence comes to the knowledge of such person or authority, whichever is earlier; or
         (c) where it is not known by whom the offence was committed, from the first day on which the identity of the offender is known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to the authority competent to initiate action, whichever is earlier:
     Provided that in computing any period under this section, the period during which the proceedings of investigation has been stayed by any court in such offence by injunction or order, the period of the continuance of the injunction or order, the day on which it was issued or made; and the day on which it was withdrawn, shall be excluded.
     (2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply to a trial for an offence of desertion or for any of the offences mentioned in section 24 or an offence under section 30.
     (3) In computation of the period of three years under sub-section (1), any time spent by such person in evading arrest after the commission of the offence, shall be excluded.