COHR condemns extension of AFSPA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 28 2026: The Committee on Human Rights (COHR) has strongly condemned the extension of AFSPA 1958 by another six months in Manipur.

Notably, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on September 25, 2026 whereby AFSPA 1958 was extended in Manipur for another six months.

AFSPA 1958, derived from the British colonial law "Armed Forces Special Power Ordinance (AFSPO) 1942, was imposed in the hill areas of Manipur soon after its enactment.

The Act was imposed all over Manipur from September 8, 1980, said a press release issued by COHR .

Since then, Indian armed forces have been committing all kinds of atrocities and human right violations in the name of counter insurgency operations.

India armed forces have killed a large number of innocent civilians, orchestrated involuntary disappearance of many and raped a number of people.

Many of the raped victims, unable to bear the trauma and stigma, committed suicide, COHR said citing the cases of Chanu Rose and Sanjita Chanu.

For decades, the people of Manipur led by Meira Paibis, human right organisations, CSOs and student organisations were protesting the inhuman characteristics of AFSPA 1959 and demanding its repeal.

In the wake of the brutal gang-rape and murder of Thangjam Chanu Manorama in 2004, the protest against AFSPA intensified and the international community started questioning the atrocities and rampant human rights violations committed by Indian armed forces in Manipur under the impunity guaranteed by the draconian law, it said.

Subsequently, UN Special Rapporteurs, National Human Rights Commission and BP Jeevan Reddy Commission recommended the repeal of AFSPA 1958 .

However, the Government of India, instead of repealing the draconian Act permanently, withdrew the Act from some areas only to be reimposed some time later, it said.

If the Government of India goes on extending the draconian Act periodically, COHR would be compelled to launch a strong mass movement, it warned.

Notably, AFSPA 1958 empowers even non commissioned officers to detain and shoot people to death on mere suspicion and armed forces personnel involved in such cases cannot be prosecuted without sanction from the Union Government, it added.

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