AFSPA to stay in force in Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal till March 2026

The Union Home Ministry on Friday extended the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in large parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months, citing the prevailing law and order situation.

In Manipur, the Act will remain in force across the entire state except in the jurisdiction of 13 police stations spread across five districts. The extension will come into effect from October 1, 2025. Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned amid escalating ethnic violence that has claimed more than 260 lives since May 2023.

The police station areas exempted from AFSPA include Imphal, Lamphal, City, Singjamei, Patsoi and Wangoi (Imphal West); Porompat, Heingang and Irilbung (Imphal East); Thoubal (Thoubal district); Bishnupur and Nambol (Bishnupur district); and Kakching (Kakching district).

The law, often criticised as “draconian” for granting sweeping powers to the armed forces, was in force across Manipur (except Imphal municipality) from 2004 to 2022. It was fully reimposed in October 2024, barring 19 police station areas, but subsequently extended again following violence in Jiribam district.

In Nagaland, nine districts Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Meluri have been declared “disturbed areas.” Additionally, several police station jurisdictions in Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha and Zunheboto districts will continue under AFSPA till March 2026.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the law has been extended to Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts along with Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police station areas bordering Assam.

AFSPA, first enacted in 1958, empowers the armed forces to search, arrest and even open fire in areas declared “disturbed.” While the government argues it is necessary to tackle insurgency and unrest, activists and rights groups have long demanded its repeal. In the Northeast, Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila spearheaded a 16-year hunger strike against the law before ending it in 2016. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier claimed AFSPA had been lifted from nearly 70 per cent of the region, though it remains operative in Jammu & Kashmir.