Imphal— In response to ongoing ethnic violence, the Union Home Ministry has reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in six police station areas of Manipur, including violence-stricken Jiribam. Under AFSPA, these areas are designated as “disturbed,” enabling security forces to operate more freely to stabilize the escalating situation.
The areas affected by this decision are Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West district, Lamlai in Imphal East district, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi, and Moirang in Bishnupur. This order follows an October 1 decree by the Manipur government, which had imposed AFSPA statewide while exempting 19 police station areas, including the six where it has now been reinstated.
The decision comes amid heightened conflict, including a deadly encounter on Monday in Jiribam, where 11 suspected militants were killed after a fierce gunfight with security forces. According to authorities, the insurgents—dressed in camouflage and armed with sophisticated weaponry—had opened fire on a police station and a nearby CRPF camp. Following this attack, six civilians, including women and children, were reportedly abducted from the district, intensifying fears of further violence in the area.
Since May last year, Manipur has seen widespread ethnic violence between the Imphal Valley-based Meitei community and the hill-dwelling Kuki-Zo groups. The violence has resulted in more than 200 fatalities and displaced thousands from their homes, creating a persistent state of instability in the state. The conflict has now reached previously unaffected areas, including Jiribam, which saw an increase in tensions after the body of a local farmer was discovered mutilated in June.
The reimplementation of AFSPA is seen as an attempt to curb the violence and restore order as Manipur continues to grapple with severe ethnic unrest.