The Manipur government has extended the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 for another six months from June 1 after declaring the state as a 'disturbed area', official sources said on Saturday.
They said the decision to prolong the AFSPA in view of the law and order situation and increasing insurgency related crimes in the state, was taken during a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on Saturday.
Sources said the AFSPA would not apply to seven assembly constituencies in Imphal Municipal areas which have not been declared as disturbed area. Barring Imphal Munipal areas, the AFSPA would apply to the rest of Manipur, they said.
Sources said the state government has been extending AFSPA, imposed in 1980, from time to time to tackle insurgency problem in Manipur.
Several social organisations have also been opposing the AFSPA, which empowers security personal to shoot any suspect even causing death, and demanding its withdrawal from the state for many years.
Official sources said more than 1000 civilians had been killed in various insurgency related crimes by security forces, deployed under the Act, in the name of dealing with insurgents in the past 25 years.
Social activist Irom Sharmila who began a fast unto death after the killing of ten innocent civilians by Assam Rifles personnel on November 15, 2000, was still continuing her hunger strike demanding removal of AFSPA from Manipur, sources said.
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