Lok Sabha MP Bimol Akoijam on Thursday raised alarms on the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in areas under six police stations in Manipur, stating that it is “another move that one must be cautious of.”
Taking to X, he posted, “This is the first time that this controversial and notorious legal fiction called the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, has been imposed by the Central Government (i.e., the Government of India) in the state of Manipur! This latest imposition makes history. It is worth recollecting that all the hitherto impositions of AFSPA in the state have been done by the Government of Manipur.”
“Even though this is the first time that the Government of India has taken this step to impose AFSPA by itself (following the amendment in 1972, the power to impose AFSPA has been concurrently given to the State as well as the Central Governments), the last few cases of impositions were carried out rather surreptitiously and/or extra-constitutionally by the Union Government (insofar as the decision on the imposition were taken/announced publicly by the Union Home Minister before the state government formally issued the notification later after the CM publicly thanked the Home Minister for the decision),” he said.
“This time around, that veil covering the surreptitious/extra-constitutional control over the State Government by the Union Government has been discarded as it has chosen to impose AFSPA by itself in areas under six police stations in the state,” he mentioned.
“With this imposition, the murky handling — such as who is actually in charge — of the law and order and security in Manipur since the beginning of the crisis in May, 2023, continues,” it said .
“Unlike anywhere in the country, now Manipur has the unique distinction of having separate areas under the AFSPA imposed by different authorities — some imposed by the state Government and some imposed by the Union Government!” he mentioned.
Incidentally, the purpose is, according to the Gazetted notification signed by the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India (dated 14 November, 2024), the latest imposition is purportedly “to carry out well coordinated operations by the security forces to maintain the security situation and contain the activities of insurgent groups in these areas,” he stated.
But then, to facilitate effective and efficient “coordination” amongst different security agencies (the army, the paramilitary, central police force, the state police, intelligence etc) while addressing and dealing with the “law and order” as well as “security” in the state, there is already “Unified Headquarters” (which has representatives from all the above security agencies) headed by Shri Kuldiep Singh, he mentioned.
“Despite that the violence has resulted into villages being wiped out, thousands rendered homeless and hundreds killed. Not only that the mayhem has also continued for one and half years to date!” he said.
“We ought to remember that many have died and villages wiped out in many areas such as Moreh, Churachandpur etc and areas adjoining foothills which are already under the Act! This being the case, what ‘coordination’ and purpose is this imposition is going to serve to address the present crisis? Far more than this draconian Act, and foggy and muddled deals with armed groups, a sincere and political will is required to restore normalcy in the state,” he added.
