Manipur: AFSPA extended by a year as state continues to be "Disturbed area"

Imphal: The state government of Manipur has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act  (AFSPA) in the state by a year. The state Home Ministry issued a notification with the approval of Manipur's governor Dr. Najma Heptulla to extend the "disturbed area" status in the entire state with the exception of the Imphal municipal area. The period of extension is set to be one year from December 1.

According to reports, the reinforcement of AFSPA and the continued designation of the state as "disturbed area" have been opted by the state governor as Governor Heptulla felt the state is still undergoing extremist and insurgent situations and is still under the grip of violent military groups. As such, enforcing armed forces to ensure civilians' safety and proper administration of order and peace is necessary in the state. 

The notification was released by the Home department of Manipur yesterday. It read: "In exercise of the power conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1985 as amended time to time, the Governor of Manipur hereby accords ex-post facto approval declared the entire state excluding Imphal Municipal areas with retrospective effect from December 1."

It may be mentioned that designating a particular region or state as "disturbed area"  puts enormous powers in the hands of the country's armed security forces under the protection of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA. Owing to the socio-political disturbances caused in Manipur by its several insurgent groups, the AFSPA has been imposed on the state ever since 1980. Henceforth, the Act has been extended from time to time.

Notably, the AFSPA was lifted from seven assembly segments of Imphal's Municipal areas under the regime of the then Okram Ibobi Singh-led Congress government. The decision came in the face of massive protests after the alleged rape and murder of Thangjam Manorama while in the custody of the Assam Rifles. 

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