look news india
Amidst the tension arising out of ethnic conflict, firing and drone attacks in the northeastern state of Manipur, the central government has taken strict legal steps to strengthen the security system. The Union Home Ministry (MHA) has issued an important notification declaring the entire Manipur state, except 13 selected police station areas of Imphal Valley, as ‘Disturbed Area’ for the next 6 months. This new order issued under Section 3 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 i.e. AFSPA will be effective from October 1. In view of the ongoing tug of war, violent clashes and militant activities between the valley and the hill districts, the Army and central paramilitary forces (CRPF, BSF, Assam Rifles) have been given full legal powers to conduct anti-terrorist operations.
It has been clarified in the Gazette Notification issued by the Home Ministry that this decision has been taken after a detailed review of the prevailing law and order situation in the state and ground reports of security agencies. The ground presence of the Army and Assam Rifles is considered essential to control the ongoing internal unrest, illegal arms smuggling and ambush attacks on security forces in Manipur.
According to the notification, this extension will be effective for the next 6 months starting from October 1. Under the law, security forces in areas declared disturbed get special powers to conduct searches without warrants, detain suspects and take strict action against armed miscreants who disturb the peace.
The central government has kept the jurisdiction of 13 police stations falling under the five valley districts of the state out of the ‘disturbed area’ tag. The local civil administration and state police will maintain order under normal laws in these areas:
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Imphal West: Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei and Patsoi police station areas.
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Imphal East: Porompat, Heingang and Irilbung police station areas.
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Thoubal District: Thoubal Police Station area.
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Bishnupur District: Bishnupur and Nambol police station area.
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Kakching District: Marked areas associated with Kakching and Wangoi.
Except these 13 police stations, strict security cover of AFSPA will remain in force in all the 9 hill districts of the state and the remaining sensitive border areas of the valley.
The dangerous changes in the patterns of violence in Manipur during the last months have alerted the security agencies. Not only have incidents of firing from Automatic Rifles been reported in the buffer zones of hills and valleys, but incidents of militant groups dropping RDX and modified mortar bombs through indigenous drones on residential settlements and security posts have also been recorded.
Apart from this, non-recovery of sophisticated weapons looted from security forces and infiltration of arms and drugs from the Myanmar border remain a major cause of concern. Intelligence agencies had warned that if the army was not given legal protection and full operational freedom, the law and order situation could deteriorate further in the coming weeks.
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is a special central law enacted in 1958 to deal with terrorism and insurgency in the troubled states of the North-East. When an area is declared ‘disturbed’ under Section 3, the Army gets the following powers:
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Right to armed action: Freedom to use force or take action against suspected armed militants after warning to maintain law and order.
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Search and seizure without warrant: To search any place where there is suspicion of weapons being hidden or criminals taking shelter.
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Arrest without warrant: The right to detain without warrant persons suspected of having committed or committing a cognizable offence.
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Legal Security: Without the prior approval of the Central Government, a case cannot be filed against the security forces for these actions.
Apart from Manipur, the Home Ministry has also extended the period of AFSPA by 6 months in selected districts of two other northeastern states – Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Sensitive border districts like Tirap, Changlang and Longding of Arunachal Pradesh along with 8 districts of Nagaland and several other police station areas have also been categorized as disturbed areas. The government has a clear message that any separatist or insurgent group that compromises peace and sovereignty in the North-East will not be spared.