Manipur Unrest: COTU Urges Centre to Extend AFSPA to Remaining Police Stations in Valley, Withdraw from Hill Districts

Total curfew is in place in the valley districts including Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching.

Two days after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) declaring 6 police station limits in 5 districts–Imphal East, Imphal West, Jiribam, Kangpokpi and Bishnupur of Manipur as “disturbed areas” effective October 1, 2024, the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) of Sadar Hills in Kangpokpi district has expressed concern over the Ministry’s decision and urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to extend the imposition of the AFSPA to the remaining 13 police stations in Imphal Valley.

However, it called for AFSPA to be withdrawn from all hill districts, including Leimakhong, as these areas already have sufficient security measures in place.

It may be mentioned here that now, of the 19 police stations 13 – Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Patsoi, Wangoi, Porompat, Heingang, Irilbung, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nambol, Kakching are outside the ‘Disturbed Area’ tag and not under the AFSPA.

The committee believes the move lacks sincerity and a genuine effort to resolve the ongoing situation in the region.

“The Committee on Tribal Unity, while appreciating the Ministry of Home Affair’s declaration of 6 Police Stations in the greater Imphal as disturbed areas under vide Notification no. 2/8(6)/2022-H(AFSPA) dated 26th September 2024 w.e.f. 1st October 2024, which was subsequently notified on 14th November 2024, lacks sincerity and genuineness in trying to resolve the present situation in the region by exempting 13 Police Stations of the valley districts but conspicuously including Leimakhong, which already have the presence of the army,” COTU said in a statement.

The COTU highlighted that state armories (military weapon storage facilities) have been repeatedly looted by civilians, who then openly carry these stolen weapons on the streets of Imphal city. The committee pointed out that both state and central security forces have limited authority to stop the public from carrying these weapons or to recover them, making the situation even more dangerous and out of control.

After a lull of few months, Manipur is on the boil again after incidents of arson and firing in Jiribam district on November 7 followed by firing in many places inclduing Phayeng, Kangchup, Koutruk in Imphal West and the incidents of arson and vandalism in the heart of capital Imphal throughout the day yesterday.

Since November 7, 2024, 10 civilians including 3 children and 10 armed men have been killed in incidents of violence in Jiribam district.

With total curfew imposed in the valley districts including Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching, no fresh protest has been reported so far since morning.

In response to the escalating chaos in Manipur, CRPF Director General Anish Dayal Singh arrived in the troubled state today after being directed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to assess the situation on the ground.

Meanwhile, total curfew is in place in the valley districts including Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching.

Internet services also remain suspended in all valley districts and the hill districts of Kangpokpi and Churachandpur to curb rumour-mongering and the spread of hate speech and inflammatory videos on social media.

Also Read: Will Manipur CM N Biren Singh Be Able to Defuse Latest Crisis As He Did Before?

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