Human rights abuses in Manipur

Human rights abuses in Manipur
Location of Manipur (highlighted in red)
Location	Manipur, India
Date	1980s - Ongoing
Target	Civilians and combatants
Perpetrators	Indian security forces Separatist insurgents
Motive	Separatism, Military clampdown

Human rights abuse is an ongoing insurgency in Manipur, a northeastern Indian state. The issue started in the 1960s due to a separatist conflict. The Indian army, paramilitary, and police personnel are responsible for killings and torture within Manipur. Human rights violations by Indian security forces are said to have fueled the armed opposition groups in Manipur. Insurgent groups have kidnapped children to train them as child soldiers against the Indian government. Manipur was declared a “disturbed area” by the Indian government in 1980 in the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958.^[1][2]

The United Nations describes the 'Armed Forces Special Powers Act' as a colonial-era law that breaches contemporary international human rights standards. The UN asked the Indian government to revoke the act, saying it has no place in Indian democracy.^[3] A number of UN treaty bodies have pronounced it to be in violation of international laws as well.