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Manipur’s Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) Extension Amid Renewed Violence
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Extension of Disturbed-Area Status
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a Gazette notification extending the “disturbed-area” declaration under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) to the entire state of Manipur, excluding areas under 13 police stations in five districts: Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Patsoi and Wangoi (Imphal West); Porompat, Heingang and Irilbung (Imphal East); Thoubal (Thoubal); Bishnupur and Nambol (Bishnupur); and Kakching (Kakching). The extension will remain in effect for six months starting October 1, 2026, unless withdrawn earlier. The same notification also extends AFSPA in specified districts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for the same period. The orders cite Section 3 of the AFSPA, which authorises the central government to declare any part of a state a “disturbed area” when the situation is deemed dangerous.
Recent Violence Triggering the Extension
A series of lethal incidents has intensified security concerns across Manipur’s hill districts:
- Kamjong district (Pilong village) – Four villagers were shot dead by unidentified armed persons suspected of being Myanmar-based militants. A sou-moto case was registered under multiple criminal statutes, including sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
- Tamenglong district – A 36-year-old Kuki power-line worker was shot dead while repairing a 33 kV line.
- Kangpokpi district – Shortly after the lineman’s killing, unknown assailants set fire to two Naga villages, destroying 24 houses. Residents reported no security presence at the time.
- Early September incidents – Multiple attacks in Tamenglong and surrounding areas resulted in several deaths, including a couple, two Kuki women, and a 17-year-old Naga boy. About 25 houses were also burned.
Collectively, officials have recorded more than 40 deaths since the ethnic clashes reignited in February, while other sources cite over 300 deaths since the conflict began in May 2023.
Official Statements & Responses
Under Section 3 of the AFSPA, the central government may declare a region “disturbed” when armed forces are needed to aid civil power. Police officials have noted investigative challenges: the Tamei police team could not reach the lineman’s shooting site, prompting a request for assistance from Kangpokpi police.
Data & Statistics
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Excluded police stations | 13 (across five districts) |
| Villagers killed in Kamjong | 4 |
| Power-line worker killed | 1 |
| Houses burned in Kangpokpi | 24 |
| Deaths recorded since February clashes | >40 |
| Deaths recorded since May 2023 conflict start | >300 |
| Additional September fatalities | 7 |
| Houses burned in early September | ~25 |
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Casualty totals – Government officials cite “more than 40” deaths since February, whereas other statements reference “over 300” deaths since the conflict’s inception.
- Perpetrator attribution – Police and a local secretary allege involvement of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac Muivah faction) in the lineman’s killing, yet no independent verification or FIR has been filed.
- Security presence – Residents of the burned villages reported the absence of security forces, highlighting a gap in on-the-ground protection despite the AFSPA extension.