Imphal, Jan 11 (UNI): The Manipur government has extended the “disturbed area” status in the state for one more year on Tuesday. This implies an extension of the Armed Forces of Special powers Act 1958 till the end of this year.
The extension is done every year by the state Home Department.
Special Secretary (Home) H Gyan Prakash said in an order that “the Governor of Manipur is of the opinion that due to 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 and is of the opinion that the areas within the state be declared as a “Disturbed Area” under the provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.”
In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (Act No.28 of 1958) as amended from time to time, the Governor of Manipur accords ex-post facto approval to declare the entire state of Manipur excluding the Imphal Municipal Area as ‘Disturbed Area’ for a period of one year with retrospective effect from December 1, 2021, it was added. The Imphal Municipal area was however excluded.
There has been a strong demand across the North East for revoking AFSPA and the voices got louder after villagers were killed in Nagaland’s Mon district in security personnel firing.
