Imphal, Jan 11 (UNI) The Manipur government has extended the “Disturbed area” status in the state for one more year on Tuesday.
The extension is done every year by the state Home department.
The extension of Disturbed Area status implies an extension of the Armed Forces of Special powers Act 1958 till the end of this year.
Special Secretary (Home) H Gyan Prakash said in an order that “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 and is of the opinion that the areas within the state be declared as a "Disturbed Area" under the provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958."
In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (Act No.28 of 1958) as amended from time to time, the Governor of Manipur accords ex-post facto approval to declare the entire state of Manipur excluding the Imphal Municipal Area as "Disturbed Area" for a period of one year with retrospective effect from December 1, 2021, it was added. The Imphal Municipal area was however excluded.
Most political parties, including Congress, Left, MPP, civil societies and victims’ families have demanded the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Chief Minister N Biren Singh also stated that the government is reviewing the matter.
The Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) formed by 1958 families of extrajudicial execution has also filed a case in the Supreme Court.
The EEVFAM and Human Rights Alert have also demanded that the government should immediately issue pending prosecution sanctions against all the police personnel indicted by the CBI/SIT in pursuance EEVFAM v/s Union of India, SC WP (Cril) 129 of 2012.
Even though prosecution sanctions against the lower-ranking police personnel were issued, those against the higher-ranking police personnel were not issued to date it was stated.
It further demanded that the state government should pursue with the Union of India to issue prosecution sanction against all the armed forces of the union found to be involved in the extrajudicially killing of the innocent citizens of Manipur, whose prima facie evidence have been already submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrates of various districts of Manipur following the investigation of the CBI/SIT in pursuance EEVFAM v/s Union of India, SC WP (Cril) 129 of 2012.
Irom Sharmila of Manipur launched an unprecedented fast for 16 years demanding repeal of AFSPA from 5 Aug 2004 to 9 Aug 2016 after the Malom massacre during which 8 Assam Rifles personnel shot dead ten persons who were waiting for a bus in a bus shed at Malom, Imphal.
Manipur government withdrew AFSPA from the Greater Imphal area covering seven Assembly constituencies after the public uprising over the alleged rape and murder of Thangjam Manorama by personnel of 17 Assam Rifles in 2004.
The AFSPA is a British colonial law promulgated to suppress Quit India Movement in 1942. Only Army Officers were empowered to kill anybody on mere suspicion during British colonial time but it was amended in 1958 to empower all army personnel to kill anybody on mere suspicion.
The AFSPA also empowers the army to destroy any arms dump, hide-outs, prepared or fortified position or shelter or training camp from which armed attacks are made by the armed volunteers or armed gangs or absconders wanted for any offence. It also empowers the army to arrest without a warrant anyone, to enter and search any premise, stop and search any vehicle.
Army has legal immunity for their actions. There can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal proceeding against anyone acting under that law and actions against the army can only be initiated with the sanction of the Central Government.
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