The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the Armed Forces Special Powers Act to the entire state of Manipur. As per the statement issued by the MHA on Sunday, AFSPA has been extended to the entire northeast state, except for 13 police station areas.
The AFSPA act grants powers to security powers in "disturbed areas" and gives them the authority to search, arrest, detain and use force without prior approval.
Along with Manipur, AFSPA has also been extended to Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh and three police station areas for the next six months.
Furthermore, the act has also been extended to eight districts in Nagaland.
As per the official notification, the act was been enforced and has been extended in 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.
This has been done as these areas have been classified as "disturbed" under Section 3 of AFSPA.
Manipur was put under President's rule in February 2025, days after the BJP leader and Chief Minister, N Biren Singh stepped down from his post.
Biren Singh's resignation came after nearly two years of ethnic violence in the state between the Kuki Zo and Meitei tribes.
