AFSPA extended in violence-hit Manipur’s hill areas for 6 months from Oct 1; 19 valley police stations excluded

The order, issued by the Home Department of the Manipur Government, said “it is not expedient to have a detailed assessment on the ground as the Sister Security Agencies are preoccupied with the maintenance of law and order” because of the prevailing situation in the state.

Stating it would be “premature” to decide on “such a sensitive matter without detailed assessment”, the order said it is “not appropriate” to review the “disturbed area” status.

Manipur has had the “disturbed area” status under the Afspa since 1980, and it was only withdrawn from some parts of Imphal in 2004 following strong protests after the killing of 32-year-old Thangjam Manorama earlier that year.

Since 2022, the areas notified as “disturbed” have been incrementally reduced and from April 1, 2023, it was withdrawn from the area of 19 police stations, all located in the state’s Meitei-dominated valley.

Soon after, the ongoing ethnic conflict in the state broke out on May 3.

The order said the “issue of declaration of ‘Disturbed Area’ status is very sensitive and may likely attract public criticism and resistance if proper care is not taken.” It stated that the government has decided to “maintain status quo” keeping in view this sensitivity and “the overall law and order situation in the state and the capability of the State machineries”.

Among other things, the Act empowers an officer of the armed forces to “fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death” against “any person who is acting in contravention of any law or order” if they think that is necessary to do, while also disallowing prosecution to persons acting under the Act except with the sanction of the Central Government.