Centre Extends AFSPA in Parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh & Nagaland for Six Months
New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the extension of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for another six months in select areas of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, effective from April 1. This decision comes in response to ongoing security concerns and ethnic violence in the region.
In Manipur, AFSPA will remain in effect across all districts, except for areas under the jurisdiction of 13 police stations in five districts—Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching. The state has been experiencing ethnic violence since May 2023, significantly impacting law and order.
In Nagaland, AFSPA has been extended to eight districts and partially to five others. This law grants special powers to the armed forces to maintain security in areas classified as “disturbed.”
In Arunachal Pradesh, the extension applies to the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts and specific regions in the Namsai district. These areas continue to fall under AFSPA due to insurgency-related activities and ongoing security threats.
Originally enacted in 1958, the AFSPA allows armed forces the authority to conduct operations, arrest individuals without warrants, and use force if necessary in regions classified as “disturbed areas.” While the law is deemed essential for counter-insurgency operations, it has faced criticism from human rights organizations and civil society groups.
This extension reflects the central government’s assessment of the security situation in the northeastern states and its commitment to maintaining stability in the region. However, it raises concerns among local communities and activists who have long called for the repeal of AFSPA, citing alleged human rights violations.
The Home Ministry will continue to monitor the security situation and reassess the law’s implementation based on ground realities in the upcoming months.
