The Hindu : National : 'People in north-east want Special Powers Act repealed'

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Friday, Jan 21, 2005

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National

'People in north-east want Special Powers Act repealed'

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 20. There is an overwhelming demand for the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, in the north-eastern States, though the people want the security forces to stay in the region to check infiltration. Similar sentiments are reflected in the ongoing depositions before the Committee to Review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act here.

``Cutting across political affiliations, people and victims of atrocities allegedly committed by the security forces have been demanding the repeal of the Act but the committee has not formed any opinion so,'' said P.P. Shrivastava, a member of the committee, here today. There would be no preliminary report, only final submission, he told reporters at the end of the second day of the three-day hearing.

The committee was announced by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, in November last to look into all aspects of the Act and its implementation in the north-east. Barring Sikkim, the Act is in place in seven of the eight States of the region and there has been a public demand for its repeal or replacement. The demand received more support following the alleged killing of Manorama Devi by the security forces..

The committee is to submit report within six months of its appointment. It is headed by the former Supreme Court judge and former chairperson of the Law Commission, Justice (retired) B.P. Jeevan Reddy. The other members are S.B. Nakade, an academician; P.P. Shrivastava, former bureaucrat; Lt. General (retired) V.R. Raghavan and Sanjoy Hazarika, journalist.

The panel will look into all aspects of the Act which include its repeal and review, said Sanjoy Hazarika, a member of the Committee.

While former administrators had deposed before the committee yesterday and today, lawyers and activists will meet the members on the final day tomorrow.

The committee will visit Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya between February 7 and 12.

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