In defiance of the ongoing curfew in Manipur, members of several civil society organizations held a rally in Imphal West district on Tuesday to protest the reimposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of the northeastern state.
According to PTI, the rally, which was organized by groups including the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO), Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur, and other local bodies, began from the Kwakeithel area. The procession covered approximately 3.5 km before being halted by police at Keishampat junction for violating curfew orders that were imposed due to recent violence in the state.
One of the protesters strongly condemned the reimposition of AFSPA, stating, “We strongly condemn the reimposition of AFSPA in areas under six police stations. A firing incident occurred in Jiribam district just a few days after AFSPA was reimposed in Jiribam.” The protester was referring to a recent firing incident in Jiribam, which left one person dead and another injured on Sunday night during a clash between security forces and a mob that was vandalizing properties in the Babupara area.
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which grants sweeping powers to armed forces in disturbed areas to search, arrest, and even use deadly force if deemed necessary for maintaining public order, has been reimposed in several areas of Manipur. The Union Home Ministry issued a notification stating that the decision was made in response to the ongoing volatile situation and ethnic violence in the state.
The areas where AFSPA has been reimposed include Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West, Lamlai in Imphal East, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi, and Moirang in Bishnupur.