Manipur govt. extends ‘disturbed area’ status for 1 more year

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Jan. 11 (EMN): The Manipur government extended the ‘disturbed area’ status to all parts of the state, except in Imphal Municipal area, for one more year with effect from December 1, 2021.

Special secretary of Home department, government of Manipur issued a notification in this regard.

“…In exercise of the power conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1985 (Act No.28 of 1958) as amended time to time, the governor of Manipur hereby accords ex-post facto approval to declare the entire state of Manipur excluding Imphal Municipal areas as ‘Disturbed Area’ for a period of 1(one) year with retrospective effect from December 1, 2020”, the notification dated December 8, 2021, said.

The extension, the notice said, was done after the governor opined that due to the ‘violent activities of various extremist/insurgent groups, the entire state of Manipur is in such a disturbed condition that the use of armed forces in aid of civil power is necessary’.

The promulgation of “Disturbed Area” status allows the enforcement of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gives immunity to the armed forces. The Act is in force in the state since 1980 and has been extended from time to time.

In August 2004, AFSPA was lifted from seven assembly segments of Imphal municipal areas following massive public protests. These seven assembly constituencies were Keishamthong, Sagolband, Singjamei, Thangmeiband, Yaiskul, Uripok and Wangkhei.

It may be mentioned that the gunning down of 13 civilians in Nagaland by forces on December 4 last year had renewed the demand for the withdrawal of AFSPA from the region. On Monday, a 2-day walkathon was organised from Nagaland’s Dimapur to state capital Kohima, a distance of more than 70km demanding the repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.