Centre Extends AFSPA For Another 6 Months In Parts Of Manipur, Nagaland And Arunachal Pradesh

The Union Home Ministry has announced a six-month extension of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of the Northeast, citing the need to maintain law and order amid prevailing security concerns. The extension, effective from October 1, affects specific regions of Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.

The most significant declaration concerns Manipur, where the entire state, which has been grappling with intense ethnic violence since May 2023, has been declared a “disturbed area". However, the notification maintains the previous exemptions, excluding the jurisdiction of 13 police stations across five valley districts—Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.

This partial removal reflects a move towards reducing the law’s footprint in more stable, urban centres, even as the overall security situation warrants the continued enforcement of the stringent law across the rest of the state, which is currently under President’s Rule.