NEW DELHI: The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Sunday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) across Manipur, except for 13 police station areas, for another six months due to the prevailing law and order situation. The Act has also been extended in eight districts of Nagaland and 21 police station areas in five other districts, as well as in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Namsai district.
AFSPA grants powers to security forces operating in “disturbed areas,” including the authority to search, arrest, and use force without prior approval.
According to an official notification, the Act will continue to be enforced in the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh, as well as areas under the Namsai, Mahadevpur, and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district, which borders Assam. These areas have been classified as “disturbed” under Section 3 of AFSPA from 1 April 2025.
In Nagaland, AFSPA has been extended to eight districts and 21 police station areas across five other districts for the same duration. The decision follows a review of the security situation in the region.
In Manipur, security forces have ramped up operations in the region, leading to multiple arrests and recoveries of weapons. Three militants were recently detained in Manipur, including members of banned groups PREPAK (Pro) and KCP. Additionally, a man was arrested for allegedly selling SIM cards to militants for illegal activities such as extortion.
On February 13, Manipur was placed under President’s Rule following a report from the state governor. The northeastern state witnessed violent clashes on May 3 last year during a rally organized by the All Tribal Students’ Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the Meitei community’s inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe category.