AFSPA Extended In Manipur; Parts Of Nagaland, Arunachal For Another 6 months

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for another six months in certain areas of Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, effective from April 1.

Officials confirmed that the decision followed a review of the law-and-order situation in these regions.

The MHA extended AFSPA across Manipur, except for areas under 13 police stations in five districts – Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.

The state has faced severe ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals since May 2023.

The central government invoked Section 3 of AFSPA, 1958, to continue the law’s enforcement.

The extension comes as Manipur remains under President’s rule since February 13, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh amid prolonged violence.

However, local organizations like Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF), Nupi Khunai, and Meira Paibis continue to protest, demanding AFSPA’s complete removal.

In Nagaland, the MHA extended AFSPA in eight districts – Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren – as well as 21 police stations across five other districts.

These areas remain classified as “disturbed” for six more months.

Similarly, in Arunachal Pradesh, AFSPA will continue in Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts and parts of Namsai district, which shares a border with Assam.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Dibrugarh district is now free from AFSPA.

However, the law remains in force in Tinsukia, Sibsagar, and Charaideo.

He highlighted the gradual reduction of AFSPA in Assam, recalling that it once covered the entire state since its imposition in 1990 to combat ULFA insurgency.

The MHA continues to review AFSPA’s applicability every six months, with further reductions expected based on security assessments.

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