A research study : Why AFSPA must go from Manipur

Dr Th Suresh Singh *

A meeting against AFSPA at Sangaithel in Imphal West district on Nov 4 2012 :: Pix - Pui Longjam

Research Study in respect of encounter deaths, bomb blasts, hand grenade attacks, gun shooting, captures and other unwanted incidents occurred in the State of Manipur during Assembly poll period, i.e from 1st January to 6th March, 2012. The research is based on daily publication of The Sangai Express and Huieyen Lanpao

1 . Of the 263 incidences-25 pc (65 nos) took place in non-AFSPA area of Imphal Municipality area and 75 pc (198 nos) took place in AFSPA area.

Out of the 198 nos-47 nos (ie 17 pc) took place around non-AFSPA area. That is about 42 pc incidences took place in and around non AFSPA area.

2. Of the 53 capture of militants-25 pc (13 nos) took place in non-AFSPA area and 75 pc (40 nos) took place in AFSPA area. Out of the 40 nos, 9 nos (ie 17 pc) took place around non AFSPA area. That means about 42 pc of capture took place in and around non AFSPA area.

Of this 53 capture-43 pc (23 nos) is by State force alone, 19 pc (10 nos) by combined force of State and Central force and remaining 37.7 (20 nos) by Central force alone.

3. Of the 23 bomb implants-48 pc (12 nos) is in AFSPA area and the remaining 52 pc (13 nos) is in non-AFSPA area. Out of 12 nos, 5 nos (ie 20 pc) took place around non-AFSPA area.

4. Of the 125 bomb blats,-72.8 pc (91 nos) took place in AFSPA area, the remaining 27.2 pc (34 nos) took place in non AFSPA area. Out of this 91 nos-24 pc (30 nos) took place around non-AFSPA area

5. Of the 5 burning incidences-80 pc (4 nos) took place in AFSPA area, the rest 20 pc (1 no) is in non-AFSPA area. None took place around non-AFSPA area.

6. Of the 21 shooting incidents-95.2 pc (20 nos) are in AFSPA area, the rest 4.8 pc (1 no) is in non-AFSPA area. Out of the 20 nos, 4.8 pc (1 no) took place around non-AFSPA area

7. Of the 8 kidnapping cases-all took place in AFSPA area (non took place in non-AFSPA and around AFSPA area)

8. Of the 6 incidences of ransom demands/beating/rescue by police/capture by UG/killed-all 5 incidences took place in AFSPA area (1 around non-AFSPA and only 1 i.e capture by UG took place in non-AFSPA area.

9. Of the 19 attacks- 11 pc (2 nos) is by UGs (1 attack on AR at CCpur, 1 by NSCN IM at Noney Congress office), the remaining 89 pc (17 nos) is between UGs and security forces including the so called fake encounters. Of this 17 nos, 3 nos are actual gun battle in border area and 1 at Chandel polling station (13 died, 5 injured), 5 are fake encounters (5 died) as claimed by family/relatives and 8 are encounter deths (11 persons dead). Of the 13 encounter 8 (61 pc) are with the State police and remaining 5 (39 pc) are with combined forces of State and Central.

Of the 13 encounter/fake encounter 1 occured in non-AFSPA area, another 6 in around non-AFSPA area and remaining 6 in AFSPA area.

It is worthwhile to mention that of the 13 civilian encounter death incidences, 11 are fake encounters as claimed by the UNLF dt 12/2/2012 and frontline reporting by Sangai Express on 11/2/2012.

Inferences

1) In spite of presence of about 1 lakh Central Army/para military force/State police force, ie 350 paramilitary force company (around 35-40,000 men) and about 60,000 Army plus State police during the recently concluded Assembly poll period (1st January to 6th March, 2012), 263 incidences of violence took place in Manipur.

2) 42 pc of incidences took place in and around non AFSPA area

3) 42 pc of capture of militants/fake militants took place in and around non-AFSPA area

4) 43 pc of capture is by State forces, they are involved in another 19 pc, ie the State force is involved in 62 pc of capture

Hence the logical conclusion is-

I) The non AFSPA area is alive and surving normally in spite of these violences

II) Violence is taking place both in AFSPa dn non-AFSPA area

III) The State police is quite competent to deal with the situation

IV) Actual encounters are very few and countable

V) Average no. of incidence per day is 4 nos

VI) What is happening basically is a normal law and order problem and hence

VII) AFSPA is not needed in Manipur

NB

I) A part of the research paper was submitted to the Honourable Supreme Court as a part of the ongoing fight for removal of AFSPA from Manipur

II) Non-AFSPA area means the 7 Assembly segments of Greater Imphal area where the draconian Act is removed since August 2004

III) Around non-AFSPA area means, next to non-AFSPA area, example Naoria Pakhalnglakpa AC next to Keishamthong AC, Patsoi AC, next to Sagolband AC.