[Assam] Without AFSPA 1958 (Assam & Manipur) India is unable to hold on to ‘Nagaland, Manipur, Asom and Tripura’ UNLESS the old wine could be packaged in a new Act to continue the legalised murders by the Indian security agencies instilling fear in the indig

[Bartta Bistar]

*Centre yet to decide on AFSPA panel report*

* *

*http://www.assamtribune.com/  12 June 2006*

*
* NEW DELHI, June 11 – A committee set up to review the controversial Armed
Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the North-east has recommended its
repeal and suggested the inclusion of some of its provisions in another Act
but the Centre is yet to take a decision on the panel's report one year
after its submission. The five-member committee headed by Justice (retd) BP
Jeevan Reddy had recommended that certain provisions under AFSPA be
incorporated in the Unlawful Activities Act to enable the armed forces to
deal with special situations existing in some north-eastern States.

"Given the existing situation, the armed forces have to be given certain
powers to handle insurgency. The government is considering the
recommendations of the committee and is yet to take a view on them," a
senior official said today.

At present, AFSPA is in operation in Nagaland, Manipur, Asom and Tripura out
of the seven States in the region.

The committee was set up in the wake of widespread protests in Manipur over
the rape and killing of Manorama Devi allegedly by Assam Rifles in 2004. It
was established after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised to reveiw the
provisions of the Act after a meeting with leaders of Apunba Lup, which
spearheaded the protests against the law.

Reddy submitted his report to Home Minister Shivraj Patil in June last year
and it has been under the government's consideration since then. Under the
Act, the armed forces can detain people without arrest warrants and are not
required to produce them before a court within 24 hours as mandated under
the CrPC. – PTI
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