The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been extended for another six months in entire Manipur, except 13 police station areas in view of law and order situation there, according to a Home Ministry statement here on Sunday.
The AFSPA, which is imposed in areas declared “disturbed”, has also been extended to eight districts in Nagaland and 21 police station areas in five other districts of the state for six months, according to a notification issued by the home ministry.
The law was also extended to Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and three police station areas in Namsai district in the state for six months beginning April 1.
“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police stations of 5 districts, as ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from 01.04.2025, unless withdrawn earlier,” the notification related to Manipur read.
The police station areas where the AFSPA will not be in force are: Imphal, Lamphal, City, Singjamei, Patsoi, Wangoi, Porompat, Heingang, Irilbung, Thoubal, Bishnupu, Nambol and Kakching.
Manipur was put under the President’s ruleand the assembly under suspended animation on the evening of February 13, days after chief minister N Biren Singh resigned from his post.
Singh, who was heading the BJP-led government in Manipur since 2017, resigned as chief minister after nearly 21 months of ethnic violence that has claimed over 250 lives so far since May 2023.
AFSPA has been in effect in Manipur since the early 1980s. It grants special powers to the forces to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”.
