New Delhi, Sep 25: The Centre has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for six more months in Manipur, Nagaland and parts of Arunachal Pradesh with effect from October 1.
The Home Ministry issued three separate notifications after reviewing law and order in the three states under Section 3 of AFSPA, the law that gives armed forces sweeping powers to search, arrest and open fire in disturbed areas.
In Manipur, which saw President’s Rule from February 13, 2025 after N Biren Singh resigned till Y Khemchand Singh took over as Chief Minister on February 4 this year, the disturbed area tag will continue in the entire state except 13 police stations across five valley districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. The state has been hit by Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar ethnic violence since May 3, 2023 that has claimed over 260 lives.
In Nagaland, AFSPA will remain in nine districts of Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Meluri and in 21 police stations spread across Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha and Zunheboto.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the extension covers Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts and the areas under Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district bordering Assam.
The order comes amid continuing protests by organisations like the Manipuri Students’ Federation and Meira Paibis seeking withdrawal of the Act. AFSPA, first imposed across Assam in 1990 at the peak of ULFA insurgency, has already been lifted from Tripura in 2015, Meghalaya in 2018 and Mizoram in the 1980s and largely withdrawn from Assam
