Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)

Recently, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been reimposed in six police station jurisdictions in Manipur amid escalating ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities. 

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About AFSPA

• It was originally promulgated by the British in response to the Quit India movement in 1942.
• It was enacted by the Indian Parliament and approved by the President in 1958. 
• The act grants extraordinary powers to the armed forces to bring back law & order in the “disturbed areas”.
• An area can be disturbed due to disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities. 

 

Provisions of AFSPA

• Section 3: Empowers the Governor of the State/UT to declare whole or part of the State/UT as a disturbed area. 
• Section 4: Gives the powers to the Indian Army to search premises and make arrests without warrants.
• Section 6: Arrested persons and seized property are handed over to the police. 
• Section 7: Prosecution is permitted only after the sanction of the Central Government.