The Central Government has reintroduced the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in six critical police station jurisdictions of Manipur, including the conflict-hit Jiribam district. This decision was outlined in a notification from the Union Home Ministry, which cited ongoing ethnic violence and an increasingly volatile situation in the state as driving factors.

The affected areas now under AFSPA include Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West district, Lamlai in Imphal East district, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi, and Moirang in Bishnupur. With this law in place, security forces gain enhanced authority to conduct operations and manage security in these “disturbed” areas.

This latest move follows a previous directive by the Manipur government from October 1, which imposed AFSPA across the state but exempted 19 specific police station areas, including the six now back under the act’s purview. Previously excluded regions included the urban and semi-urban zones of Imphal, Lamphal, City and Singjamei, among others.

The reintroduction of AFSPA comes on the heels of fresh violence in Jiribam. On Monday, suspected insurgents, armed with sophisticated weapons and dressed in camouflage, attacked a local police station and a neighbouring CRPF camp, sparking a fierce gunfight that led to the deaths of 11 suspected militants. Just a day after this confrontation, militants reportedly abducted six civilians, including women and children, from the same district, heightening local anxieties.

Since May of last year, Manipur has been gripped by ethnic violence, primarily between the Imphal Valley’s Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo groups from surrounding hill areas. These clashes have led to over 200 fatalities and displaced thousands from their homes. Although Jiribam had previously remained largely untouched by the turmoil, tensions escalated sharply following the discovery of a mutilated farmer’s body in June, marking a new flashpoint in this ongoing conflict.

The Centre’s decision to reinstate AFSPA is seen as an attempt to stabilise the region. However, it also underscores the deep-rooted ethnic divide and the critical need for a long-term solution to restore peace in Manipur.