Imphal, February 10: As part of the ongoing campaign for total repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, a mass convention was organised by West bengal unit of Yuva Bharat at Students Hall located at College Street of Kolkata on February 5, said a press statement of Working Committee of the Apunba Lup.

The mass convention was held with Yuva Bharat (WB) president Dr Gautam Paul as the chief guest and Yuva Bharat�s National Convenor Ashok Bharat as the functional president.

Apunba Lup representatives Phulindra Konsam, Aslam Khan, Dayanand Chingtham and Babloo Laishram attended the convention as guests of honour.

Speakers from across the country including human rights activists, social workers and student leaders were unanimous in declaring the Act as �undemocratic, inhumane and repressive�, said the statement.

Three point resolution were also adopted at the meet pertaining to immediate cessation of army repression, scrapping of AFSPA and to launch national campaign in solidarity with the people�s movement in Manipur.

In addition to attending an interaction session on AFSPA 1958 organised at Ideal Youth Centre of Nadia district in West bengal where draconian aspect of the Act was highlighted the Apunba Lup representatives also took part in a similar programme held on the same evening.

The evening programme was organised as part of the closing ceremony of Kolkata Book Fair wherein retired Chief Justice Shyamal Sen graced the occasion as the chief guest.

A book titled �Focus on Human Endeavour� authored by Dr Syed Murad Ahmed and another titled �Bidrohi Manipur� in Bengali language penned by Prithiviraj Sen were released on the occasion, informed the statement.

The 168-paged second book illustrates detail of the Th Manorama Devi killing case and subsequent movement by the Manipuri people.

After the Lup representatives highlighted on plight of the people of Manipur to a huge audience who had gathered for the closing ceremony of the Book Fair a protest march was also organised with banner and slogan shouting protestors raised strong objection to continuation of AFSPA.

Comment