Imphal: In the wake of escalating ethnic violence, 10 Kuki MLAs from Manipur, including seven from the ruling BJP-led alliance, have urged the government to extend the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to the entire state. This demand comes after the Centre reimposed AFSPA in six police station areas, including Jiribam, on November 14, citing the “continuous volatile situation” due to ethnic strife.
The MLAs argue that extending AFSPA would facilitate the recovery of over 6,000 sophisticated weapons looted by Meiteis since May 3, 2023, and contain the violence that has claimed more than 220 lives. They criticized the resolution adopted by the ruling BJP-led NDA in Manipur, calling it “divisive, one-sided, and communal.”
The Kuki legislators also recommended that all civilian killings since May 3, 2023, be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis began on May 3, 2023, after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ protested the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was enacted in 1958 to enable special powers to armed forces in “disturbed areas”. The Act gives armed forces sweeping powers to search, arrest, and open fire if necessary for maintaining public order.
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