New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in several northeastern states for another six months starting 1 October, citing a continuing fragile law and order situation.
In Manipur, the Act will remain in force across the entire state except for 13 police station areas in five districts, Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching.
The exempted areas include six police stations in Imphal West, three in Imphal East, two in Bishnupur and one each in Thoubal and Kakching.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule after the ethnic violence erupted in May 2023. AFSPA was earlier withdrawn from parts of the state in 2022 but was reimposed in October 2024 following renewed unrest.
The ministry also renewed AFSPA in nine districts and 21 police stations spread across five other districts of Nagaland, declaring them “disturbed areas” for the same six-month period.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the Act will continue to apply in the Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts and in the Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police station areas bordering Assam.
AFSPA gives the armed forces broad powers to search, arrest and use force in “disturbed areas,” while providing immunity from prosecution without prior central government approval.
The latest notifications follow a detailed security review by the central government and underscore ongoing concerns about stability across parts of the Northeast despite intermittent peace efforts.
