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The Act, which has been in force in the northeast since 1958, gives unbridled powers to the armed forces and the Central Armed Police Forces deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant and protection from prosecution and legal suits without the Central government’s sanction.
Both the Central and State governments have concurrent powers to issue a notification under Section 3 of the Act.
The Manipur government on December 8 issued a notification to extend the Act, excluding the municipal areas of Imphal, for another year. The order said “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.”
Right from the 1980s, the notification extending the AFSPA has been issued by the State government. In the last 40 years, the Centre has not issued any notification under the Act for Manipur.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on December 26 announced that the MHA had constituted a committee to look into the withdrawal of the Act.
Protests are on since December 4, when 13 civilians were killed in a botched operation by the Army in Mon district.
