Ukhrul, March 30, 2025: The Government of India has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, in Manipur for another six-months, continuing its enforcement across 13 police station limits in the state. This decision, announced via a notification in The Gazette of India on March 30, 2025, comes as part of an ongoing review of the law and order situation in the northeastern state, effective from April 1, 2025.
This extension will remain in place for six months, until September 30, 2025, unless withdrawn earlier.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also announced a six-month extension of the AFSPA in Nagaland State in eight districts, namely, Dimapur, Niuland, Peren, Chümoukedima, Phek, Mon, Noklak, Kiphire that include 21 police station, and three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Tirap, Changlang and Longding (TCL) covering Namsai, Mahadevpur, Chowkham Police Stations.
According to the notification issued by the MHA, after reviewing the situation, has decided to maintain the “disturbed area” status for these 13 police station jurisdictions under Section 3 of the AFSPA in Manipur.
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The areas falling under this jurisdiction in Manipur include:
- Imphal (Imphal West District)
- Lamphel (Imphal West District)
- City (Imphal West District)
- Singjamei (Imphal West District)
- Patsoi (Imphal West District)
- Wangoi (Imphal West District)
- Porompat (Imphal East District)
- Heingang (Imphal East District)
- Irilbung (Imphal East District)
- Thoubal (Thoubal District)
- Bishnupur (Bishnupur District)
- Nambol (Bishnupur District)
- Kakching (Kakching District)
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The notification specifies that no new areas have been added to the list of disturbed regions under AFSPA in Manipur. The last expansion of AFSPA’s enforcement occurred in November 2024, when the Act was reimposed in six police station areas, including Jiribam, following a review of the security situation in the state.
The AFSPA grants special powers to the armed forces in regions designated as ‘disturbed areas,’ allowing them to conduct operations and use force without prior warrant.