AFSPA extended in Manipur & Nagaland

Dec. 30: The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday declared entire Nagaland as ‘disturbed area’ for 6 months under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (No. 28 of 1958) the central government hereby declares that whole of the State of Nagaland to be ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from 30 December, 2020 for the purpose of that Act,” the notification said.

Nagaland has been under AFSPA for almost six decades now and it was not withdrawn even after a framework agreement was signed on August 3, 2015, by Naga insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak Muivah).

Further, government of Manipur has extended the “Disturbed Area” status in the state excluding the Imphal municipal areas from December 1 for one year. This Armed Act has been in force since 1980 and has been extended from time to time.

In August 2004, AFSPA was lifted from seven assembly seats of Imphal Municipal areas during the past Congress regime under Okram Ibobi Singh. This decision came in the time of massive protests after the murder and the alleged rape of Thangjam Manorama while in Assam Rifles custody.

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 is an act of the Parliament of India that grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”.