Afspa back in parts of restive Manipur areas

CENTRE REMOVED AFSPA FROM THESE PLACES IN APRIL '22, MARCH '23 CITING AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE LAW AND ORDER SITUATION

- Prawesh Lama and Thomas Ngangom

The Union government on Thursday reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or Afspa, in areas under the jurisdiction of six police stations across five Manipur districts, more than a year after it was removed from these places, amid a fresh wave of violence in the state.

In an official notification, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) declared the regions falling under Sekmai and Lamsang police stations in Imphal West district; Lamlai in Imphal East; Jiribam in Jiribam; Leimakhong in Kangpokpi; and Moirang in Bishnupur as "disturbed area".

In April 2022, MHA removed Afspa from Sekmai, Lamsang, Lamlai and Jiribam police stations and in March 2023, from Leimakhong and Moirang citing an "improved law and order situation".

"The areas falling under the jurisdiction of... six police stations in Manipur are declared as 'disturbed area'. The Central Government is of the opinion that imposition of AFSPA, 1958 in the... 6 Police Stations of 5 districts in Manipur is warranted to carry out well-coordinated operations by the security forces to maintain the security situation and contain the activities of insurgent groups in these areas," the notification said.

Section 3 of Afspa defines "disturbed area" as a region where there is "extensive disturbance of the public peace and tranquillity." Before Thursday's notification, all of Manipur except the areas falling under the jurisdiction of 19 police stations were categorised as "disturbed.". The act grants special powers to the forces to maintain public order in "disturbed areas", empowering the personnel to even "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". It remains a contentious legislation, with civil society members saying that it gives personnel impunity to carry out excesses and forces saying that it helps them maintain order in restive areas.