After J&K, Now Northeast India Wants AFSPA To Go

Guwahati, Sep 12 : With the Centre considering withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from parts of Jammu & Kashmir, human rights activists in the northeast have intensified their movement against the controversial statute.

In fact, long before AFSPA became a bone of contention in J&K the Imphal valley had witnessed widespread protests against it.

Such was the intensity of Manipuri's resistance against the Act in 2004 that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to pledge its replacement with a "more humane law'' to address the nation's security concerns and citizens' rights.

This was basically an attempt to douse the fire ignited by the alleged rape and murder of Thangjam Manorama Devi, a villager, by some Assam Rifles personnel.

AFSPA, which was enacted by Parliament in 1958, was initially introduced in Assam and Manipur to contain Naga rebellion. It was later amended and extended to other states.