AFSPA Reimposed In Manipur’s 6 Police Station Areas Including Jiribam

New Delhi: Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act reimposed in Manipur 's 6 police station areas, including violence-hit Jiribam: MHA. The decision, announced by the Union Home Ministry, follows the ongoing ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups. 

The areas now under AFSPA are Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West district, Lamlai in Imphal East district, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi, and Moirang in Bishnupur. The reimposition comes after the Manipur government had earlier declared AFSPA in the entire state on October 1, except for 19 police station areas, including the six now included in the new order. 

Eleven suspected militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces on Monday after insurgents in camouflage uniforms and armed with sophisticated weapons fired at a police station and an adjacent CRPF camp in Manipur's Jiribam district.

A day later, six civilians, including women and children were abducted by armed militants from the same district. More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year.

The ethnically diverse Jiribam, which was largely untouched by the clashes in Imphal Valley and the adjoining hills, witnessed violence after the mutilated body of a farmer was found in a field in June this year. 

What is AFSPA?

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is a law that grants the Indian Armed Forces sweeping powers to operate in regions deemed "disturbed." Under AFSPA, security forces can arrest individuals without warrants, search premises without prior approval, and even shoot to kill in certain circumstances. 

The law was introduced in 1958 to combat insurgency in the northeastern states but has been criticized for its potential to lead to human rights violations due to the extensive powers it grants to the military. 

In regions where AFSPA is enforced, the local government and authorities are expected to cooperate with security forces, ensuring the latter's operational ease. However, its application has sparked debate.