New Delhi/Imphal, September 25, 2026: The Centre has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, across most of Manipur, declaring the entire state except areas under 13 specified police stations a “disturbed area” for another six months from October 1, 2026.
The order will remain in force until March 31, 2027, unless withdrawn earlier. The extension comes amid renewed violence and escalating tensions between Naga and Kuki communities in several hill districts, adding to the security challenges confronting the state.
The latest decision by the Ministry of Home Affairs comes against the backdrop of fresh incidents in Tamenglong, Kangpokpi, Noney, Ukhrul and adjoining areas, where clashes and attacks have continued to fuel fears of another cycle of ethnic violence.
Human Rights Watch reported that renewed Naga-Kuki violence in late August had already resulted in multiple deaths and described the situation as an escalation of ethnic tensions in the state's hill districts.
The situation has remained particularly volatile in the Naga-Kuki conflict zones. A 17-year-old Naga boy was killed in an alleged ambush in Tamenglong district earlier this week, according to reports, while other recent incidents have included attacks on villages and burning of houses.
The circumstances and responsibility for individual attacks remain matters for investigation.
The latest AFSPA order does not cover the areas falling under 13 police stations in five districts, indicating that the Centre continues to distinguish between areas where it considers the security situation comparatively manageable and those where additional powers for the armed forces are being retained.
The extension is significant because AFSPA gives armed forces operating in a notified “disturbed area” specified powers under the 1958 law, including powers relating to arrest and the use of force in circumstances defined by the Act.
Manipur has been caught in overlapping ethnic fault lines since the violence that erupted in 2023, while the recent Naga-Kuki confrontation has added another layer to the state's security crisis. Reports in September have pointed to continuing violence despite the change of government in the state earlier this year.
The fresh extension therefore comes at a critical juncture for Manipur, with the Centre retaining extraordinary security powers over most of the state while excluding 13 police-station areas from the notification.
The extension of AFSPA is now the clearest official indication that the Centre continues to regard the security situation across large parts of Manipur as sufficiently serious to warrant the continuation of the “disturbed area” framework.
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