Imphal, April 23: The Kuki Liberation Army–Letkholun (KLA-L) has called for the re-notification of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the Imphal Municipal Area, stating that the move is a legal necessity rather than a political decision.
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In a press communiqué issued on April 22, the group claimed that the prevailing security situation in Imphal since May 2023 has crossed the legal threshold required for declaring an area “disturbed” under Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958.
The statement alleged several incidents of violence in the state capital, including attacks on police posts, looting of weapons from armouries, and prolonged blockades along national highways. It also claimed that the use of firearms and improvised explosive devices in civilian areas had been recorded in official reports.
According to the communiqué, the deployment of security forces and repeated curfews have not fully stabilised the situation. The group argued that AFSPA would provide a statutory framework for armed forces to assist civil authorities in restoring order.
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The KLA-L also suggested that the re-notification of AFSPA in the Imphal Municipal Area should initially be for a limited period of six months and be subject to periodic review. It proposed certain benchmarks, including recovery of looted arms, the absence of attacks on police stations for a defined period, and the uninterrupted functioning of key highways.
The statement further claimed that the law should be applied without discrimination and urged authorities to ensure equal security for citizens in all areas of the state.
AFSPA, which grants special powers to armed forces operating in “disturbed areas,” has long been a contentious issue in Manipur and other parts of the Northeast. The act was partially withdrawn from several areas in recent years following improvements in the security situation, though it continues to remain in force in certain regions.
