In a striking contradiction to Union Home Minister Amit Shah&rsquo;s recent assertion that normalcy is returning to Manipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) across the entire state, barring 13 police station areas. The decision comes even as ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities continue to claim lives, shattering hopes of peace in the strife-torn region.
The AFSPA Extension: A Reality Check
The AFSPA, a controversial law granting sweeping powers to the armed forces, will remain in force across most of Manipur for another six months starting April 1. The law has also been extended to eight districts in Nagaland and 21 police station areas across five other districts. In Arunachal Pradesh, Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts, along with three police station areas in Namsai district, will also come under AFSPA&rsquo;s purview.
The police station areas in Manipur where AFSPA will not be enforced are: Imphal, Lamphal, City, Singjamei, Patsoi, Wangoi, Porompat, Heingang, Irilbung, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nambol, and Kakching. However, large swathes of the state remain under what human rights groups have long criticized as a draconian law facilitating human rights violations.
Amit Shah&rsquo;s Claim vs. Ground Reality
During his recent visit to the Northeast, Amit Shah had emphatically declared that the ethnic violence in Manipur was winding down. He claimed that the Centre was facilitating dialogue between the warring Meitei and Kuki communities, with gradual progress towards peace. Shah also justified the imposition of President&rsquo;s Rule in Manipur as a necessary step to stabilize the state.
But the on-ground reality paints a starkly different picture.
Since May 2023, over&nbsp;250 people have been killed&nbsp;in ethnic clashes, with&nbsp;thousands injured&nbsp;and nearly&nbsp;60,000 displaced. Armed groups continue to launch attacks, and villages remain heavily barricaded, with locals forming self-defense militias. Reports from the ground reveal that armed violence has not ceased; instead, it has taken new forms, including targeted assassinations and arson attacks. In many areas, security forces have been accused of partiality, further deepening mistrust between the communities.
President&rsquo;s Rule and AFSPA: A Pattern of Control?
The reimposition of AFSPA comes on the heels of the&nbsp;February 13 declaration of President&rsquo;s Rule in Manipur, which saw the assembly being placed under suspended animation. The resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh after nearly 21 months of ethnic conflict left a political vacuum, which the Centre has now filled with direct control.
However, critics argue that the return of AFSPA under President&rsquo;s Rule is a clear indication that the state is far from normal. If peace were truly returning, why would the government need to reinstate an act designed for insurgency and conflict zones?
The Continued Suffering of Civilians
For civilians caught in the crossfire, the extension of AFSPA signals more distress. The law grants the armed forces the power to arrest without a warrant, search homes without consent, and even use lethal force with near-total impunity. Over the years, human rights organizations have documented numerous instances of&nbsp;torture, extrajudicial killings, and forced disappearances&nbsp;under AFSPA.
&ldquo;Every time they say normalcy is returning, more troops arrive, more curfews are imposed, and more villages are burned,&rdquo; said a local activist from Churachandpur, speaking on condition of anonymity. &ldquo;If this is normalcy, then we are doomed.&rdquo;
Fear or Peace?
The Centre&rsquo;s claim of improvement in Manipur&rsquo;s situation now stands in direct contrast with its own actions. The imposition of AFSPA suggests that the state remains far from stable, and the suffering of its people continues unabated. The question now is whether the government&rsquo;s strategy of heightened militarization will restore peace or further entrench the divide between communities.
For the thousands of displaced Meiteis and Kukis, for the grieving families of the 250-plus victims, and for those living in constant fear, normalcy is still a distant dream. And with AFSPA back in force, that dream seems even further away.

Violence in Manipur and Armed Force controlling the situation (photos sourced from social media)

Though Union Home Minister claimed normalcy, AFSPA invoked to control the situation

AFSPA Imposed in Manipur, Nagaland & Arunachal Pradesh

Though Union Home Minister claimed normalcy, AFSPA invoked to control the situation

March 30, 2025 | 17:14 IST