Going against the stand of the Manipur government, a key civil society group in Kuki-Zo has urged the Center to extend the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to the remaining 13 police stations in the districts of Manipur valley.

The tribal body, Committee for Tribal Unity (COTU), has demanded withdrawal of AFSPA from the hill districts, including Leimakhong, citing sufficient military presence to maintain peace.

The statement follows a recent notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on November 14, designating six police stations in Greater Imphal as ‘disturbed areas’ under the AFSPA, with effect from October 1, 2024.

The tribal body also criticized the government’s lack of “sincerity and authenticity” in its response to the ongoing crisis in the state.

He claims the unrest in Imphal was fueled by armed militants who allegedly forced the valley’s representatives to pledge allegiance to their demands at Kangla Fort earlier this year, thereby undermining the state and central security forces.

The looting of state armories in Imphal, which led to widespread public possession of illegal firearms, was also highlighted.

He stressed that resolving the security crisis requires a balanced approach, ensuring that the disturbed area tag applies comprehensively in the valley regions while respecting the relative stability of the hill districts.

“This selective implementation of AFSPA reflects a lack of commitment to restore normalcy and address root causes,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, sources said, reviewed the security situation in Manipur and directed top officials to take all possible measures to ensure peace in the Northeastern State.

The move comes as the situation in Manipur, plagued by ethnic conflicts since May last year, remains volatile following protests and violence that followed the recovery of the bodies of women and children.

Manipur witnessed a fresh wave of protests following the disappearance of six people from an internally displaced persons camp in Jiribam on Monday. The six bodies were found in a river in Manipur within two days.

Angry mobs on Saturday torched the residences of three more BJP legislators, one of whom is a senior minister and a Congress MP, in various districts of Imphal Valley, even as security forces foiled an attempt to storm the ancestral residence of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, officials said.