AFSPA has been at the heart of many public protests in Manipur over the years, with many residents and activists labelling it draconian and accusing it of enabling human rights abuses.
GUWAHATI: Hundreds of people defied a curfew on Monday and participated in a protest march organised by
civil society organisations
in Manipur’s Imphal East, challenging Centre’s decision to reintroduce Afspa across areas under six police stations in five districts.
The demonstrators also expressed outrage over the recent kidnapping and killing of six Meitei women and children in Jiribam by suspected Kuki militants on Nov 11.
Manipur govt cited concerns over potential unrest to extend the suspension of mobile internet services in multiple districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West and Jiribam. The suspension will remain in place till Wednesday evening.
The reimposition of Afspa on Nov 14 has sparked widespread discontent. The 1958 law gives special powers to soldiers during counter-insurgency/terrorism operations.
Afspa has been at the heart of many public protests in Manipur over the years, with many residents and activists labelling it draconian and accusing it of enabling human rights abuses.
Monday’s protest, organised by local clubs and Meira Paibis (women vigilantes), saw participants carrying placards with slogans such as “Remove Afspa from the state”, “Stop the imposition of the draconian law,” and “Stop killing of women and children”.
The protesters said they were dissatisfied with Centre’s handling of the ongoing conflict and feared that bringing back Afspa would only worsen the situation.
The sectarian violence since May 3 last year has claimed more than 250 lives and displaced nearly 60,000 people, creating a deep divide between Kuki-Zo tribal communities in the hill districts and the Meitei population in Imphal valley.
