New Delhi. Keeping in mind the increasing violence and deteriorating law and order situation in Manipur, the Central Government has re-imposed AFSPA by declaring 5 districts of the state as ‘disturbed areas’. The Union Home Ministry has issued a notification regarding this decision. Earlier, on October 1, 2024, these areas were excluded from the notification of AFSPA. According to the Union Home Ministry, this decision has been taken in view of the ongoing ethnic violence and instability in Manipur. The police station areas where AFSPA has been re-imposed include Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West district, Lamlai in Imphal East district, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leemakhong in Kangpokpi district and Moirang in Bishnupur district.
The move comes after the Manipur government issued an order on October 1, in which 19 police station areas were taken out of AFSPA. These included Imphal, Lamphal, City, Singjamei, Lamsang, Patsoi, Wangoi, Porompat, Heingang, Irilbung, Limakhong, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nambol, Moirang, Kakching and Jiribam.
Increasing violence in Jiribam
Recently, militants in camouflage uniforms and armed with sophisticated weapons opened indiscriminate fire on a police station and a nearby CRPF camp in Jiribam district of Manipur. Following the attack, 11 suspected militants were killed in an encounter with security forces. Just a day after this, armed terrorists abducted six civilians, including women and children, in the same district, further spreading panic in the area.
#BreakingNews : Center reimposes #AFSPA in #Imphal Valley in areas under #Sekmai, #lamsang, #Lamlai, #Jiribam, #Leimakhong and #Moirang Police Stations with immediate effect. pic.twitter.com/oiynlvso1q
— Imphal Free Press (@ImphalFreePress) November 14, 2024
Impact of ethnic conflicts
Since May last year, more than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ongoing ethnic violence between the Meitei community living in the Imphal Valley in Manipur and the Kuki-Jo groups living in the surrounding hills. Jiribam, which was earlier untouched by these conflicts, was hit by violence in June this year after the mutilated body of a farmer was found. This step of the Central Government is being considered an important effort towards restoring peace and stability in Manipur. The restoration of AFSPA will give more powers to the security forces in these sensitive areas, so that they can control the violence.
