IMPHAL, May 28 – Manipur Government has decided to extend “disturbed area status” of the state for another six months from June 1 in spite of strong protests from various social organisations and communities, official sources said today, reports PTI. The decision to prolong the status under Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh here yesterday in view of the deteriorating law and order situation, the sources said.
They said the Act which was first imposed in September 1980 in the state had been in extension from time to time since then to give more powers to security forces involved in counter-insurgency operations in the region. Sources said the Cabinet which reviewed the ‘worsening’ law and order situation in the state finally gave approval to the proposal for extension of the disturbed area status despite various groups opposing it.
Different social organisations including women’s groups and students’ organisations had in separate statements earlier stated that provisions of the Act were being ‘misused’ by security forces in the name of tracking down armed insurgents. The organisations which included All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) and All Manipur Women’s Social Reformation and Development Samaj had said that many innocent civilians had been killed in the name of dealing with insurgents.
Official sources admitted that various social organisations had been demanding immediate withdrawal of the Act from the state and added that top government leaders were also aware of the memoranda and protests from different groups from time to time demanding lifting of the Act. Meanwhile, the fast unto death launched by 37-year-old woman Irom Sharmila demanding immediate withdrawal of the Act from the state has entered its fourth year, official sources said.
Sources said Sharmila had launched the fast after ten innocent civilians were killed by Assam Rifles personnel at Airport area in November, 2000, while chasing insurgents. The sources said Sharmila, who was now in judicial custody, was being fed through her nose and her condition was deteriorating fast.