IMPHAL, April 9: Six student organisations in Manipur have voiced strong opposition to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ recent decision to extend the ‘Disturbed Area’ status in the state, thereby continuing the enforcement of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) for another six months. The latest order, issued on Sunday, exempts only 13 police station jurisdictions from the law while the rest of the state remains under its purview.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the student bodies condemned AFSPA as a “black law” that has been imposed on the people of Manipur since 1980. They asserted that the Act has led to severe human rights violations over the decades, including extrajudicial killings and prolonged denial of justice. The organisations recalled that AFSPA was initially enforced following the Indian government’s declaration of parts of Manipur as “Disturbed Areas.”

Although the Union Home Ministry began a phased withdrawal of AFSPA from select police station jurisdictions starting April 1, 2022, a significant portion of the state continues to remain under its shadow. As of March 2023, 19 police stations had been exempted from AFSPA’s coverage. However, the latest notification dated April 1, 2025, shows a reduction in this number, with only 13 police stations now excluded from the Act’s jurisdiction. The rest of the state continues to be classified as a “Disturbed Area,” allowing AFSPA to remain in effect.

In a joint statement, the student bodies argued that the extension of AFSPA is not intended to bring peace but rather to empower armed forces with unchecked authority—something they claim frequently leads to human rights violations. They further denounced the move as a continuation of colonial policy by the Indian state.

The student organisations — Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA), Students’ Union of Kangleipak (SUK), and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS) — demanded the complete withdrawal of both the ‘Disturbed Area’ status and AFSPA from Manipur.

Warning of potential public backlash, the groups stated that the continued imposition of AFSPA could deepen the existing resentment among the people and might trigger a widespread uprising if not addressed urgently.

The joint statement was signed by the presidents of the respective organisations: Hijam Roshan (MSF), Mayengbam Somorjit Meitei (DESAM), Sukham Bidyananda (KSA), Ningthoujam Dhanakumar Meitei (SUK), and Oinam Nikarson (AIMS), among others.