The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to reimpose the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in six police station areas of Manipur, citing the ongoing volatile situation triggered by ethnic violence. These areas include Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West, Lamlai in Imphal East, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi, and Moirang in Bishnupur.
This move comes after the Manipur government imposed AFSPA across the entire state on October 1, but excluded 19 police station areas from the jurisdiction of the act. Notably, the reimposition now extends AFSPA’s coverage to areas such as Jiribam, where ethnic clashes have recently intensified.
The AFSPA grants the military sweeping powers to maintain order, including the ability to arrest individuals without a warrant and use force to maintain peace. The decision follows a spike in violent incidents, including a gunfight in Jiribam on Monday where suspected militants engaged with security forces. Eleven militants were killed, and shortly after, six civilians, including women and children, were abducted by armed assailants in the district.
Ethnic violence between Meiteis, based in Imphal Valley, and Kuki-Zo groups from the hill districts has raged since May of the previous year, claiming over 200 lives and displacing thousands. While the Jiribam region had previously been relatively unaffected by these clashes, it has become embroiled in violence after the discovery of a mutilated farmer’s body in June.
The ongoing unrest underscores the fragile security situation in Manipur, where ethnic tensions continue to threaten stability and peace in the region.
Comments are closed.