AFSPA protested
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 08 2025: Six student bodies including MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK and AIMS have demanded repeal of the infamous Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA 1958 from all over Manipur at the earliest.

A joint press release issued by the six student bodies said that re-imposition of AFSPA in the jurisdictions of six police stations viz; Sekmai, Lam-sang, Lamlai, Jiribam, Lei- makhong and Moirang by an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Nov 14, 2024 negated the people's wish.

The people of Manipur have been living under the shadow of AFSPA for decades which has been already accepted as a 'black law' and an instrument of oppression and persecution by the State, it said.

Notably, the infamous AFSPA authorises armed forces to search any premises without warrant, detain, arrest and even shoot to kill any one on mere suspicion.

The infamous Act was imposed all over Manipur on September 8, 1980.Since then, the people of Manipur have been facing rampant human rights violation, systematic oppression and persecution, the student bodies asserted.

With the impunity guaranteed by AFSPA, security forces killed 1528 people between 1979 and 2012, they continued.

It was only in 2004 that the infamous Act was lifted from the jurisdictions of six police stations.

AFSPA was lifted from the jurisdictions of nine more police stations on April 1, 2022 followed by four other police stations on March 25, 2023.Thus the areas covered by the 19 police stations were freed from the scourge of AFSPA.

The State Home Department issued an order on October 1, 2024 whereby the disturbed area status of Manipur was extended for six months with the exception of the areas covered by the 19 police stations.

However, the Government of India, overrode the State Government's order and re-imposed AFSPA on November 14, 2024 in the jurisdictions of six police stations from where the infamous Act was lifted earlier, said the student bodies.

They said that all the indigenous communities of Manipur will be wiped out if the draconian AFSPA continues to operate in the State.

They also called upon all the people to once again stand together and fight collectively against AFSPA .

The student bodies further urged the Government of India to lift the infamous Act from all over Manipur before the people launch a strong and sustained mass protest movement.

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