Disturbed Area status extended for l yrs in state
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 10 2022:
Amid the growing public demand for repealing AFSPA following the December 4 incident in Nagaland's Mon district, the government of Manipur has extended the disturbed area status in the state for one year.
A notification issued by special secretary (Home) H Gyan Prakash on December 8 last year stated that the Governor of Manipur is of the opinion that due to violent activities of various extremist/insurgent groups, the entire state of Manipur is in such a disturbed condition that the use of armed forces in aid of civil power is necessary and is of the opinion that the areas within the state be declared as a "Disturbed Area" under the provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958."In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (Act No.28 of 1958) as amended from time to time, the Governor of Manipur hereby accords ex-post facto approval to declare the entire state of Manipur excluding the Imphal Municipal Area as "Disturbed Area" for a period of 1 (one) year with retrospective effect from December 1, 2021," the notification stated.
Mention may be made here that the state government has not made public its decision to extend the disturbed area status though the notification was issued on December 8.Several CSOs have been demanding the government to withdraw AFSPA from the state and northeast after the Mon district incident in which 14 civilians were killed by security forces in a botched counter-insurgency operation.
In response to the growing demand for repealing the Act termed by many as draconian, chief minister N Biren had said that it would need prior understanding with the Central government in order to repeal the Act from the state.
In Nagaland too, the Centre extended the disturbed area status for six months on December 30 last year in-spite of the Nagaland state cabinet resolving against continuation of AFSPA in the wake of the Mon district incident.