Lagatar24 Desk
Imphal: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday classified areas under six police stations in Manipur as “disturbed areas,” thus extending the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) to these regions. Previously, AFSPA was lifted from 19 police station areas, but recent escalations in violence have led the government to reimpose it in six of these areas.
The decision follows the deployment of 20 additional paramilitary companies, amounting to nearly 2,500 personnel, in Manipur. This comes in response to a resurgence of civilian attacks and armed confrontations involving insurgent groups, with over 230 casualties recorded since ethnic clashes erupted around 18 months ago.
Areas Under New AFSPA Notification
According to the notification, AFSPA has been reimposed in the jurisdictions of the following police stations:
•Sekmai and Lamshang in Imphal West
•Lamlai in Imphal East
•Jiribam in Jiribam district
•Leimakhong in Kangpokpi district
•Moirang in Bishnupur district
The MHA cited continued ethnic violence and active insurgent group involvement as factors necessitating the reimplementation. “Ongoing violence in fringe areas of Bishnupur-Churachandpur, Imphal East-Kangpokpi-Imphal West, and Jiribam continues to destabilize the region,” read the order by Additional Secretary Piyush Goyal.
Historical Context of AFSPA in Manipur
AFSPA has been active in Manipur since the 1980s but was partially revoked in Imphal’s municipal areas in 2004 and removed from 15 police station jurisdictions in 2022. The disturbed area status was lifted from four additional police stations in April 2023. This latest notification will be effective until March 31, 2025.
