AFSPA Extended in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh; UKNA Chief Arrested in Aizawl
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for six more months, from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, unless withdrawn earlier.
The extension was done under Section 3 of AFSPA, which lets the government declare an area "disturbed". The MHA said it acted after a fresh review of the law and order situation.
Manipur: the whole state stays "disturbed", except areas under 13 police stations in five valley districts (Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching). Officials pointed to ongoing ethnic tension and sporadic gunfire in the fringe areas between the valley and the hills.
Nagaland: nine full districts (Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Meluri) plus some police station areas in Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha and Zunheboto districts.
Arunachal Pradesh: Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts, plus the Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police station areas in Namsai district, which borders Assam.
Separately, Thangkhomang Haokip, commander-in-chief of the banned United Kuki National Army (UKNA), was arrested in Aizawl, Mizoram, by a joint team of the Assam Rifles and intelligence officials. The case is likely to go to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The UKNA, formed in 2019, is not part of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) peace deal. The NIA also arrested two Kuki student leaders from Manipur in Aizawl.
Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958
AFSPA is a law made by Parliament in 1958. It gives the Army and other central armed forces special powers in areas the government has declared "disturbed". There, they can search places and arrest people without a warrant. In some cases they can even use force that may cause death. The idea is to help the forces deal with armed rebel groups when the normal police cannot handle the situation.
The MHA used its Section 3 power to keep AFSPA going in parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh until 31 March 2027. This six-month cycle comes from the Supreme Court's 1997 direction that the "disturbed area" status must be reviewed regularly. In Manipur, 13 valley police station areas stay outside the Act, while the hill and fringe areas where armed groups are active stay under it.
Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement
A Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement is a deal between the government and an armed rebel group to stop fighting for a while. Security forces stop operations against the group. In return, its fighters give up violence, live in fixed camps and keep their weapons locked up. It is a pause that gives time for political talks, not a final peace settlement.
The arrested UKNA chief led a group that stayed outside the SoO framework. That is why the Assam Rifles and intelligence agencies could track and arrest him. The contrast shows how the government uses two approaches at once: talks with groups inside the SoO, and security operations against those outside it.
Insurgency in Northeast India: Causes, Groups and Peace Accords
Since Independence, many armed groups in Northeast India have fought the government. Some wanted a separate country, some a separate state, and some more power for their own community. The government responds with security operations, special laws like AFSPA, ceasefire and SoO deals, and peace accords that give groups a share in power and development.
The AFSPA extension across three states and the arrest of a militant leader in a neighbouring state (Mizoram) show that insurgency in the Northeast is not limited to one state. Armed groups move across state and international borders. So security agencies in different states have to work together.
- AFSPA extension period: 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 (six months)
- Legal basis: Section 3, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958; notified by the MHA
- Manipur: whole state "disturbed" except 13 police station areas in 5 districts (Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching)
- Nagaland: 9 full districts plus police station areas in 5 more districts (Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha, Zunheboto)
- Arunachal Pradesh: Tirap, Changlang, Longding districts plus 3 police station areas in Namsai district
- Arrested: Thangkhomang Haokip, commander-in-chief of UKNA, in Aizawl, Mizoram (24 September 2026)
- UKNA: Kuki armed group formed in 2019; not part of the SoO
- Manipur SoO with KNO and UPF: since August 2008; renewed with revised ground rules on 4 September 2025
- AFSPA upheld by the Supreme Court: Naga People's Movement of Human Rights v. Union of India (1997)