Source: The Sangai Express
Kolkata, September 11:
Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that the Centre was constantly reviewing the situation in Manipur, but declined to say whether the Armed Forces Special Power Act, which give authority even to shoot down a suspect, would be withdrawn.
Mukherjee, told newsmen at the Press Club here said that Home Minister Shivraj Patil had visited Manipur and the Centre was now constantly reviewing the situation.
Asked whether the Centre was planning to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Mukherjee declined to give a straight comment and said that any step would have to be taken keeping in mind the situation prevailing currently in Manipur.
''When we take a decision on the present situation we will let you know,'' he said.
Both the Centre and state governments were empowered to enforce the Act, he said.
The Manipur government had promulgated the Act in the entire state and subsequently withdrawn it from municipal area, he said.
Under the Act, no case could be filed against the security forces without permission from the Union Home Ministry.
Earlier, inaugurating a workshop on a Defence Correspondents' course, Mukherjee said that Assam Rifles were not operational in entire Imphal after July 11, the day the body of Th Manorama Devi was found after being picked up by the security forces a day earlier.