AFSPA imposed in 6 valley areas of Manipur for 4.5 months

Shillong, Nov 15: In response to ongoing ethnic tensions and insurgent activities in Manipur, the Centre on Thursday imposed the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 in six areas across 5 valley-based districts of the State to carry out security operations and control the escalating law and order situation in these areas.

In a notification issued on Thursday, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared jurisdiction under six police stations in Manipur as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 with immediate effect up till March 31, 2025.

These police stations are Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West district, Lamlai in Imphal East district, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi district, and Moirang in Bishnupur district.

The AFSPA provides military personnel with the authority to conduct operations aimed at restoring stability in regions designated as disturbed.

The decision was made following a security review which noted that the situation continues to remain volatile amidst ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur and intermittent firing in violence-prone areas continues in the fringe areas of Bishnupur-Churachandpur, Imphal East-Kangpokpi-Imphal West and Jiribam districts with several instances of active participation of insurgent groups in heinous acts of violence.

Earlier, on September 26, 2024, the MHA had declared the entire State of Manipur excluding the areas falling under 19 police stations as “disturbed area” and imposed AFSPA on them for a period of 6 months with effect from October 1, 2024.

These 19 areas included: Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lamsang, Patsoi, Wangoi, Porompat, Heingang, Lamlai, Irilbung, Leimakhong, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nambol, Moirang, Kakching, and Jiribam.

However, with the latest notification, 6 of the earlier exempted areas have been brought under AFSPA, leaving 13 areas as normal.

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