Manipur Government Urges Centre To Withdraw Armed Forces Special Powers Act Amid Violent Protests

The Manipur government has formally requested the Centre to reconsider and revoke the reimposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from areas falling under the jurisdiction of six police stations in the state.

The Ministry of Home affairs had reimposed AFSPA on 14 November 14 in areas including Sekmai PS and Lamsang PS in Imphal West, Lamlai in Imphal East, Moirang in Bishnupur, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi, and Jiribam, which has been affected by fresh violence.

In a letter to the Centre, the Joint Secretary (Home) highlighted that the state cabinet had discussed the reimposition of AFSPA during its meeting on 15 November.

The cabinet "has decided to recommend to the Central government to review and withdraw the said declaration of areas falling under the jurisdiction of six police stations in the state as disturbed areas under Section 3 of AFSPA 1958", according to the letter.

"It is accordingly requested to kindly review and withdraw the notification dated 14-11-2024 in public interest," it said.

This comes after protesters attacked the residences of three state ministers and six MLAs on Saturday following recovery of bodies of six missing persons from a Manipur river.

The bodies, including that of an eight-month-old child, were recovered from the Barak River in Jiribam.

These individuals had been missing since Monday, following violent clashes where 10 armed Kuki men were killed in a gunfight with security forces.

Further, a mob also tried to storm the residence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

In response, the state government imposed indefinite prohibitory orders in five districts and suspended internet services in parts of the state.

Meanwhile, the civil society groups on Saturday asked the state government to take decisive action against armed groups and withdraw AFSPA.

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