India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, for another six months in parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland. Officials announced the decision on Friday, with the extension kicking in from October 1 for Manipur and Arunachal, and from April 1 for Nagaland.
AFSPA gives security forces broad powers in “disturbed areas,” including the right to search, arrest, and even open fire to maintain public order. In Manipur, the law now applies across the entire state except for areas covered by 13 police stations in five districts: Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching. This comes amid ongoing ethnic clashes between the majority Meitei community and minority Kuki-Zo-Hmar groups, which erupted on May 3, 2023. The violence has torn through all 16 districts, claiming more than 260 lives.
Manipur has been under President’s rule since February 13, just days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned on February 9, ending the second BJP-led government. The ministry reviewed the law and order situation before extending AFSPA under Section 3 of the 1958 Act.
In Nagaland, the extension covers eight full districts—Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phenk, and Peren—plus 21 police stations in five other districts: Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha, and Zunheboto. Officials also assessed security there before declaring these spots as disturbed areas.
Arunachal Pradesh sees AFSPA renewed in three districts—Tirap, Changlang, and Longding—along with areas under Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district, which borders Assam. The government reviewed conditions in these regions too.
Groups in Manipur, like the Manipuri Students’ Federation, Nupi Khunai-Yairipok, and Meira Paibis, continue to protest and call for scrapping AFSPA entirely from the state.
On a brighter note, neighboring Assam has seen major progress. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma noted that the central government has removed AFSPA from large swaths of his state. “At one point, the whole state was under it,” he said. “Now, they’ve steadily pulled back.” AFSPA first blanketed Assam in 1990 amid intense insurgent attacks by groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). It renews every six months, but improvements have led to its full withdrawal from Tripura in 2015, Meghalaya in 2018, and Mizoram back in the 1980s.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
