NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday issued three separate orders extending the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) across Manipur, except for 13 police station areas, for another six months due to the prevailing law and order situation.
The act has also been extended in eight districts of Nagaland, 21 police station areas in five other districts, and in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, including parts of Namsai district.
The AFSPA gives sweeping powers to the armed forces operating in disturbed areas and also immunity from prosecution unless approved by the Centre, as under the law a particular state or some areas are declared “disturbed”.
In the notification, a copy of which is with TNIE, the MHA said, “Whereas the central government after review of the law and order situation in the state of Manipur, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (28 of 1958) declares the entire state of Manipur, excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of the following 13 (thirteen) police stations of 5 districts, as ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from 01.04.2025, unless withdrawn earlier.”
These excluded areas include six police station areas – Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Patsoi and Wangoi - of Imphal West, three – Porompat, Heingang and Irilbung - of Imphal East, two – Bishnupur and Nambol - of Bishnupur and one each of Thoubal and Kakching.
The disturbed area declaration was in force in the entire Manipur (except the Imphal municipality area) from 2004 till early 2022.
In April 2022, the Manipur government issued a notification where it said that “disturbed area” will no longer be applicable in seven police station areas of Imphal West district, four police station areas under the Imphal East district and one police station area each in the districts of Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching and Jiribam. There are 16 districts in Manipur.
In October 2024, the Manipur government re-imposed AFSPA in the entire state, barring 19 police station areas, a month later the Act was also extended in six of the 19 police station areas after violence broke out in Jiribam district.
Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence for nearly two years since it broke out first on May 1, 2023 leading to the death of over 250 people so far. The state has of late been put under President’s Rule.
In a separate notification, the Home Ministry said a further review of the law and order situation in Nagaland has been undertaken. After that, Dimapur, Niuland, Chumukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren districts in Nagaland were declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for six months with effect from April 1, 2025, unless withdrawn earlier.
In its third notification, the MHA said a further review of the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh has also been undertaken and following which it has decided to put Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of the state, bordering the State of Assam, under ‘disturbed area’ as part of Section 3 of the AFSPA for six months with effect from April 1, 2025, unless withdrawn earlier.
The AFSPA, often criticised as a draconian law, gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary. There have been protests and demands for the complete withdrawal of the law from the Northeast as well as Jammu and Kashmir.