Manipur government extended Disturbed Area status under AFSPA for another one year

The Manipur Government on 1 December 2014 extended the Disturbed Area status for Manipur to another one year under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) with effect from 1 December 2014.

Except the eight assembly segments in the Imphal Municipal Council of Manipur, the disturbed area status will be applicable to the valley and hill districts in the rest of the state. The extension will allow security forces to operate and aid civil administration to flush out insurgents.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting after taking serious note of frequent bomb blasts and other acts of violence.

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is an Act of the Parliament of India which was passed on 11 September 1958. It extends to the whole of the State of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura and the Union Territories of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.

The AFSPA was first imposed in Manipur in September 1980. However, it has been extended from time to time. Section 3 of the AFSPA empowers the state government to extend the Disturbed Area status over the entire state or some selected areas.

It grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces to maintain public order in the places that are termed as Disturbed Areas under the Act.