Centre reimposes AFSPA in 6 PS areas, including Jiri

OSR/PTI
N DELHI/IMP, Nov 14 : The Centre has reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, under which an area is declared as "disturbed" for the convenience of security forces to operate, in Manipur's six police station areas, including violence-hit Jiribam.
AFSPA gives sweeping powers to the military to operate freely anywhere that has been declared a "disturbed area"; no military personnel in an area where AFSPA is in force can be prosecuted without the Centre's permission.
In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said the decision was taken given the continuous volatile situation there due to the ongoing ethnic violence. The police station areas where AFSPA has been reimposed are Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West district, Lamlai in Imphal East district, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi and Moirang in Bishnupur.
The fresh order came after the Manipur Government imposed AFSPA in the entire State on October 1, barring 19 police station areas that include these six.
AFSPA was last removed from areas falling under the jurisdictions of four police stations-Wangoi, Leima-khong, Nambol and Moirang, making the total number of stations 19.
The 19 police stations across 7 districts include Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lam-sang, Patsoi, Porompat, Heingang, Wangoi, Leima-khong, Lamlai, Irilbung, Bishnupur, Nambol, Moi-rang, Kakching, Thoubal and Jiribam.
Earlier, ‘disturbed area’ tag under AFSPA was removed from areas under the jurisdiction of 15 police stations only.
In 2004, the Centre had lifted AFSPA from some areas of Imphal East and Imphal West districts under the jurisdiction of 6 police stations-Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Porompat and Heingang.
This followed the huge uproar, including the historic nude protest at Kangla, after the bullet riddled body of Thangjam Manorama was recovered after she was picked up by Assam Rifles personnel.
In April 2022, AFSPA was further removed from areas under 9 police stations including Sekmai, Lamsang, Patsoi, Lamlai, Irilbung, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kak-ching and Jiribam.
The police stations excluded from the Manipur Government's October 1 order of AFSPA imposition were Imphal, Lamphal, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lam-sang, Patsoi, Wangoi, Po- rompat, Heingang, Lamlai, Irilbung, Leimakhong, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nam-bol, Moirang, Kakching, Jiribam.
Eleven suspected militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces on Monday after insurgents in camouflage uniforms and armed with sophisticated weapons fired indiscriminately at a police station and an adjacent CRPF camp in Jiribam district.
A day later, six civilians, including women and children were abducted by armed militants from the same district.
More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Mei-teis and adjoining hills- based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year.
The ethnically diverse Jiribam, which was largely untouched by the clashes in Imphal Valley and the adjoining hills, witnessed violence after the mutilated body of a farmer was found in a field in June this year.