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AFSPA and the Manipur Crisis: A Law That Won't Die and a State That Won't Heal AFSPA and the Manipur Crisis: A Law That Won't Die and a State That Won't Heal By Arabinda  |  BUGLE  |  June 2026  |  12 min read Tags: AFSPA • Manipur • Northeast India • Human Rights • Irom Sharmila • Indian Civil Rights On this blog, I wrote about Irom Sharmila in 2011. She had then been on a hunger strike for over a decade, demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act — a law that had governed her home state of Manipur since 1981. In 2026, fifteen years after I wrote those posts, AFSPA is still in force in Manipur. And now the state has added a new layer of tragedy to its already broken history: over three years of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that has killed more than 258 people, displaced 60,000, and effectively divided the state into two armed enclaves separated by buffer zon...

In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. About 3 minutes: The violinist received his first dollar.  A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. At 45 minutes: The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.  About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.  After 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over.  No one noticed and no one applauded.  There was no recognition at all. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.  He...

In busy office hours; amidst humming and buzzing noises; I got lost seeing an extra piece of white sheet in that sheaf  of reports!   I was about to check; that was urgent.  My mind focused on memory; how long it was I wrote a letter or anything on paper! Could not recollect exactly. The last letter I must have written to my mother who departed in 2003. But obviously it was much earlier to her settling to ‘rest in peace’ forever. The white sheet tempted me to write anything that comes in my mind as I used to long ago; long after I wrote last! Gone are the days of letters. Email and SMS replaced and outdated them almost totally; ever since computer permeated to our offices first and then our households. I am not sure how the word ‘love letter’ sounds to young generations! My heart still throbs faster when I remember writing or receiving my first one! I held the pen again though not sure enough what to write about! Received a jolt finishing the very first ...

In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot. And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she was often called Amazon Dot Com. And she said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why dost thou travel so far from town to town with thy goods when thou canst trade without ever leaving thy tent?" And Abraham did look at her - as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load - but simply said, "How, dear?" And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale, and they will reply telling you who hath the best price. The sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)." Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. The drums rang out and were an immediate s...

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( contineued from part ............II) Today, on news paper I find a news stating that renowned activist Medha Patkar is organizing rally from Jammu Kashmir to Manipur in support of Iriom Sharmila for her unending fight against AFSPA or Armed Forces Special Power Acts; now in force in all the North Eastern States and J&K. What surprises me; has Medha been sleeping for this long period of 11 years, ever since Irom Sharmila was on fast to repeal AFSPA? Or it was other lucrative issues like ‘Narmada Banchao”, oust Tata’s Nano plant from West Bengal and many more were more alluring to her to steal the lime light or strike the headlines! The incredible India and Indians! So when rest of the country is rallying after Anna for his ‘Jan Lokpal Bill” and anti corruption move and Anna’s fast raising massive support amongst the sensitive, educated middle class; now Sharmila gets a chance. So, Medha is on the move; this time with a ‘Sharmila’ banner. We wait and see how long she lasts A...

( Continued from part ….........I ) To start with; let me correct some points in my first chapter,Irom Sharmila witnessed the killings that prompted her to fast unto death till the AFSPA repealed; the victims were not all ladies there were male members too. This has been corrected by one of my friends who has been closely watching the developments since long. Now let us see what AFSPA is all about. This law was passed by Indian Parliament on 11th September 1958 conferring the special powers on Armed Forces to act on Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Trupura as they all were declared disturbed areas. Later this law was extended to Jammu & Kashmir on July 1990. Now what are the special powers! The Constitution of India empowers a state government to declare it disturbed or a state of emergency is called upon. The reasons could be failure of stated administration and police to tackle the situation as the scale of unrest is too large. As a consequence; the ...

How do we start our days in any of our metropolis or smaller town; the busy morning schedules to catch up with our times. Even in villages where the roads and electricity have reached; the life has become more or less same; the only difference for those who are associated with farming may start the day quite early. The day may vary from one to another due to various professional and occupational differences but for all our days pose no fear. Imagine a morning you are passing by a bus stand in the outskirts of your town; people there as usual gathered to catch buses. All of sudden 'tara .. tara. ta. ; you find security perosonals on patrol opening fire to those in the bus stand with out any provocation! Ten die there instantly, in that doldrums you manage to take a glimpse, all the ten bodies are of innocent village women lying in pool of blood! What will be you reaction? Just to hurry back your home and taking recourse to nudge the very thought of that heinous killings. That...

Just click to enlarge the image See how Lokpal Bill can curb the politicians, Circulate it to create awareness Existing System System Proposed by civil society No politician or senior officer ever goes to jail despite huge evidence because Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) and CBI directly come under the government. Before starting investigation or prosecution in any case, they have to take permission from the same bosses, against whom the case has to be investigated. Lokpal at centre and Lokayukta at state level will be independent bodies. ACB and CBI will be merged into these bodies. They will have power to initiate investigations and prosecution against any officer or politician without needing anyone’s permission. Investigation should be completed within 1 year and trial to get over in next 1 year.Within two years, the corrupt should go to jail. No corrupt officer is dismissed from the job because Central Vigilance Commission, which is supposed to dismiss corrupt officer...

Anna Hazare says bring back the Black Money.   Do u know what will   happen if   1,456 Lac Crores comes back.   1.  India  Financially No.1 2. Each district will get 60000 crores & each village will get 100 Crores 3. No need to pay taxes for next 20 yrs. 4. Petrol 25 Rs, Diesel 15 Rs, Milk 8 Rs. 5. No need to pay electricity bill. 6. Indian borders will become more stronger than the China Wall. 7. 1500  Oxford  like Universities can be opened. 8. 28,000 kms Rubber road (like in  Paris ) can be made. 9. 2,000 hospitals (with all facilities) all medicine Free. 10. 95 crore people will have their own house.     Support Anna Hazare by forwarding this message to atleast 10 Indians.         PLease take time to read it. ‎ 10 things to know about Anna Hazare 'n Jan Lok Pal Bill.. ! 1. Who is Anna Hazare? An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War 2. What's so special about him? He built a village Ralegaon Sid...

1978!  You must be thinking what is precious about the year!  All the way the year 1978 carried special significance for me. How come!  You know I was born on 16 th January; numerically they say if you add the birth date=, then number carries a significance in your life; so for me it is 7 as 1 + 6 = 7; and mind you, in the year 1978 I was 25. So 2 + 5 = 7 . Now here comes the story; till 1978 in Indian Air Force a law prevailed those Airmen failed to get promoted to the rank of at least Lance Air Corporal within nine years of their service; would be discharged. I was an airman then. With law or rules in view , I  did not take any promotion till 1978 (even thereafter) expecting my salvation after nine years of service with Air Force. But to my utter dismay  in 1978; all of a sudden a circular came; stating that Airmen who even fails to get promoted by nine years , will be in service till they complete their initial bond i.e. 15 years. Can you imagine how I felt...

STROKE! it may turn out to be silent spot killer; at the best it leaves one like vegetables! Treated but not cured, the attack of stroke can be suspended but the damage can hardly be reversed. Could we identify the early warning, many lives could be saved much damages could be avoided. Here are some ways.................. STROKE:  Remember the 1st Three Letters.....  S. T. R. STROKE IDENTIFICATION: During a BBQ, a woman stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) ....she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Jane went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Jane's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 PM Jane passed away). She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stro...

Obama eradicates Osama; what started with President Bush, the question is, will it end with Obama? This is a million dollar question. In fact with presidential election in United States due in 2012; and Obama's popularity having touched nadir; is going to look up with Prize Osama. Despite US economy remains where they were till now. Obama's promise to retrieve it from the down-fall remains unfulfilled frustrating US citizens of all levels. How ever Americans value more for their national security than anything else. As we know they fight all the wars away from their home land. Destroying, devastating and ravaging other countries has been their favorite pastimes on the pretexts like saving the mankind from disastrous chemical gas (never found in Iraq!), spread of communism and threat of nuclear war (Korea,Vietnam, Afghanistan)! They indulge in wars and destruction always on others soils taking their allies from European countries ( therefrom they poured in since sixteenth cen...

THE ONLOOKER: CHITTARANJAN IN 50s PT.........2 The life at the small industrial railway town Chittaranjan ...............

Products & Service Reviews: Bengal Hyundai, Sevice Center at Manicktala and Ba... : "Hyundai; makes good cars. When I made up my mind to buy a car since it’s more a necessity now than luxury; given to the city’s poor trans..."

Have you traveled through district roads of West Bengal recently? It your answer is in affirmative, then I need not to tell you how those roads are! If you did not take a journey through those roads anywhere in the state. Those who take frequent journeys by road, they are likely to know NH2 & 6 ; the Durgapur Expressway and Bombay Road. After coming into national highway networks those roads are converted into six lanes and that turned the road travel experience is worth that you pay in terms of toll tax. But comparing to them journey through any other roads criss crossing the state covering several districts and major part of NH 34 are in horrible state. The potholes and bumpers ( with no uniform specification!) turn the travels into travails. The state government collect road tax, they get central allocations to fund the expansion, repair and maintenance of these roads. One surmise where the fund goes? Some of the roads come under District or Panchayet authority ; they get re...