GUWAHATI: In response to a surge in violence, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been extended for another six months in Manipur. However, it will not apply to 19 police stations within the Imphal valley and an area bordering Assam.
The "disturbed area" status under AFSPA will continue across Manipur, except for those 19 police stations in the valley districts. The decision to maintain the status quo was made by the state government due to the prevailing law and order situation.
Notably, the Army and Assam Rifles cannot operate within the areas covered by these 19 police stations without the consent of the state police.
Security officials have been advocating for AFSPA to cover the entire state to facilitate efforts to reduce or eliminate the presence of terror groups within the valley. Security agencies believe that banned terror organisations like the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Liberation Army (PLA), Kanglei Yawol Kanba Lup (KYKL), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), and KCP have established a foothold in the Imphal valley.
The order issued by the Manipur Government's Home Department cited the inability to conduct a detailed on-ground assessment due to the focus on maintaining law and order by Sister Security Agencies, given the current state of affairs.
Meanwhile, the situation in Imphal has been tense since Tuesday night due to protests over the killing of two Meitei community students. On Wednesday, the state administration imposed a 24-hour curfew in both Imphal East and Imphal West districts.
In an evening notification, authorities stated that the curfew was imposed to maintain law and order, prevent untoward incidents, and protect lives and property. The curfew started at 4 PM on September 27 and covered all areas of the Imphal valley.
On Wednesday, several students were injured when security forces used tear gas shells to disperse a stone-pelting mob in Imphal's Moirangkhom, close to the chief minister’s secretariat. The students were participating in a rally to protest the kidnapping and killing of two youths who had gone missing in July, and whose photos recently circulated on social media.
