Context

• Amid the recent incident of ethnic violence in Manipur, the Central Government has directed all security forces deployed in the state to take necessary steps to restore peace on November 17, 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.