Context

• As ethnic violence continues, the Centre and the Manipur government have decided to review the scope of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the north-eastern state.
• The periodic six-month extension of AFSPA in Manipur ends on September 30, 2024.

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA):

• This act provides certain special powers to the security forces, especially in areas where there is a situation of insurgency or disturbance.
• Former name: It was known as the Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act, 1958.
• This law was first implemented in the year 1958 to deal with the Naga insurgency.
• At present AFSPA is in force in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

The powers of the armed forces under AFSPA mainly include:

• Right to arrest any person without warrant: Under AFSPA, security forces can arrest any person without warrant if they suspect him/her of involvement in any crime.
• Right to search any building or place: Security forces can search any building or place without any judicial order.
• Right to shoot anyone on suspicion: If a person seems to be a threat to the security forces, they can be shot.

Controversies:

There are mainly two types of controversies regarding AFSPA:

• Violation of human rights: Many believe that the powers granted under AFSPA are often abused and violate human rights.
• Volatility of autonomy: AFSPA is often seen as an attack on the autonomy of state governments.