Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, June 06:
A committee set up to review the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in wake of killing of Manorama Devi in Manipur today submitted its report to the Centre.
The five-member committee headed by Justice (Retd) B P Jeevan Reddy submitted the report to the Home Minister Shivraj Patil.
Reddy, however, declined to divulge any details about the report, including its size.
"We are not supposed to and are not going to divulge the contents of the report at this stage," he told reporters after the half-an-hour long meeting.
He said it was an "unanimous" report prepared after "good amount of deliberations".
"We have visited Northestern States and got feedback from people, security forces and various stake holders.
The report keeps in mind the security of the state, rights of the people and the development of the Northestern States," he said.
The committee was set up in November last year to review the AFSPA after the alleged rape and killing of Manorama Devi by Assam Rifles jawan.
The incident had sparked widespread protest in the state including a demonstration by some women and self immolation by a youth.
In July, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised to set up the review committee in Manipur.
Patil said that he will put the report before the Cabinet for discussion and the contents of the report will be brought to the notice of later.
"We are not expected to say anything about the content and probably you (media) will appreciate it...
We will make the report public after the matter is discussed by the Cabinet," the Home Minister told NDTV.
"After considering the recommendations meticulously and very seriously, we would like to decide as to how to act upon the suggestions that have been made in the report," he added.