Imphal: The Manipur government on Monday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) by another six months in the state, excluding 19 police station areas falling under the Imphal valley and a region that shares its boundary with Assam.
“The state government is of the opinion after analysing the prevailing law and order situation in the state that it is not expedient to have a detailed assessment on the ground as security agencies are preoccupied with maintenance of law and order,” the notification said.
“The governor of Manipur hereby accords approval to declare the entire state of Manipur excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of 19 police stations… as Disturbed Area for a period of six months with effect from 1st October,” the notification signed by Commissioner (Home) N Ashok Kumar read.
In the notification, the state government’s Home Department said the extension will come into effect from October 1.
“Further it will be premature to arrive at any conclusion or decision on such a sensitive matter without detailed assessment thereby not appropriate to review the ‘Disturbed Area’ status of the state at the moment,” it said.
The police station areas where the Disturbed Areas have not been imposed include Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lamsang, Patsoi, Wangoi, Porompat, Heingang, Lamlai, Iribung, Leimakhong, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nambol, Moirang, Kakching and Jiribam.
The areas that have been kept out of the purview of AFSPA are dominated by the majority Meitei community.
The AFSPA grants special powers to the Indian armed forces to maintain public order in the “disturbed areas.”
The Act has been in effect in Manipur since the early 1980s.
However, in 2004, AFSPA was revoked from the Imphal municipality area.
In April 2022, the act was revoked in areas under the jurisdiction of 15 police stations spread across six districts of the state.
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Again in April 2023, it was revoked in areas under the jurisdiction of four police stations.
The AFSPA gives sweeping powers to the armed forces operating in disturbed areas to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary.
