Imphal: The Manipur Government has requested the Centre for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, from areas under the jurisdiction of six police stations in the state.
The decision was taken after a meeting of the State Cabinet on Friday.
The Cabinet resolved to ask the Central Government to review and revoke the AFSPA declaration for areas under the jurisdiction of Semkai, Lamsang, Lamlai, Jiribam, Leimakhong, and Morang police stations.
A letter from the Joint Secretary (Home) to the Centre highlights that “the state cabinet has deliberated upon the same (reimposition of AFSPA) in its meeting held on November 15 and has decided to recommend to the Central government to review and withdraw the said declaration of areas falling under the jurisdiction of six police stations in the state as disturbed areas under Section 3 of AFSPA 1958.”
“It is accordingly requested to kindly review and withdraw the notification dated 14-11-2024 in the public interest,” it added.
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On November 14, the Ministry of Home Affairs reimposed AFSPA in areas falling under Sekmai PS and Lamsang PS in Imphal West district, Lamlai in Imphal East, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi, Moirang in Bishnupur and Jiribam in Jiribam district.
The decision to reimpose AFSPA was prompted by the persistent unrest and ethnic violence, the Union Home Ministry stated in its notification.
The Union government’s notification on the reimposition of AFSPA coincided with the Manipur police’s announcement of a major arms and ammunition seizure in the Jiribam and Churachandpur districts of Manipur.
Manipur has had the Disturbed Area status under the AFSPA since 1980, and it was only withdrawn from some parts of Imphal in 2004 following strong protests after the killing of 32-year-old Thangjam Manorama earlier that year.
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A region is declared “disturbed” under AFSPA to enable the armed forces to carry out operations effectively. The act grants the armed forces extensive powers to search, detain, and open fire if necessary to maintain public order.
