• By Aditya Jha
  • Sun, 30 Mar 2025 04:05 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday announced that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been extended to the state of Manipur, barring 13 police station areas. The statement further stated that AFSPA has also been extended to three districts in Arunachal Pradesh and three police station areas in the state for 6 months. Manipur was put under President's rule on February 13 after then Chief Minister Biren Singh resigned following months of violent clashes.

Biren Singh's resignation came after a series of violent acts in the state for more than one and a half years. The violence began after two major communities of the state, Meitei and Kuki, clashed on May 3, 2023. Since the first clash, more than 250 people have lost their lives, and hundreds of people from both communities were forced to leave their native cities.

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Earlier in February, the central government announced that state buses will again start their operation in every region of the state; however, a group attacked the first such bus.

Manipur And AFSPA- A Long History

However, this is not the first time that AFSPA has been extended to the state of Manipur. The central government had first given extra powers to the force in the state in 1958. It was extended as a response to Naga insurgencies in the Naga-dominated districts of Senapati, Tamenglong, and Ukhrul. AFSPA provides special power to the armed forces to maintain peace in the "disturbed" areas of the state.

The security forces had also conducted search operations on Saturday in several regions of Manipur to recover the arms used in the violent acts, reported news agency ANI.

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“During the operation, the following items were recovered. One country made Rifle, One Bolt Action Rifle, One .22 Pistol, One country made Mortar (Pompi-6 ft.), One country made Mortar (Pompi-5 ft.), One country made Mortar (Pompi-4 ft.), One local made Hand Grenade, One Helmet, One Wireless Set, One Wireless Set Charger, One HE Bomb, Ten nos. of 5.56 mm live round, Twelve nos. of 7.62x39 mm empty case, Four nos. of 7.62x45 mm empty case and 500 gm of Gun Powder from Thangjing hill forest under Churachandpur Police Station, Churachandpur District,” the statement from Imphal police read, while providing details.