Central Government declared the entire state of Manipur, excluding area under 13 police stations, as ‘disturbed area’, under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, for another six months.
- A disturbed area is one which is declared by notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA.
- Whole or any part of a state, where such a disturbed or dangerous condition has arisen the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary, can be declared as a disturbed area.
- The Central Government, or the Governor of the State or administrator of the Union Territory can declare the whole or part of the State or UT as a disturbed area.
- Powers to armed forces in disturbed areas under AFSPA:
- Authority to prohibit a gathering of five or more persons in an area
- Arrest a person without a warrant if reasonable suspicion exists, the army can
- Enter or search a premises without a warrant
- Destroy any arms dump, fortified position from which armed attacks can be made or any training camp for armed volunteers
- Applicability of the Act: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
