IMPHAL, June 6 ? Manipur government has extended the disturbed area status of the state under Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, for one more year from Sunday, a government notification said, reports PTI. The notification, issued Saturday, said the disturbed area status had been extended under the act to enable the armed forces aid the civil administration in tackling insurgents in the state.
Official sources said Manipur cabinet had on May 24 decided to extend the disturbed area status for one more year in view of increasing insurgency-related violence and incidents. The sources said the Armed Forces Special Powers Act had been imposed in the state in September 1980 for one year and since then it has been extended for every year.
Many social organisations including All Manipur Students Union and Apex Body United Committee Manipur had strongly opposed the extension of the act alleging that civilians were harassed by security forces in the name of looking for insurgents.