Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 08:
The six member panel set up to review the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, in the backdrop of the people's demand to revoke the Act from Manipur will arrive here on December 27 to seek the views and opinion of the public.
An official statement issued to the press today said that the proposed visit will be the first of the team's visit to the North East States as part of the process of hearings on AFSPA.
The decision to visit Manipur on December 27 was taken during the second meeting of the panel held today at New Delhi.
"The Committee is looking forward to interactions with the public and stakeholders on its visit to the region," said Justice BP Jeevan Reddy who is heading the six member panel.
Details of the visit will be given in the local media as the time progresses, added the statement.
The Committee has invited responses from individuals, organisations, parties, institutions and NGOs on its mandate which includes whether, "it should recommend to the Government of India to amend the provisions of the Act to bring them in consonance with the obligations of the Government towards protection of Human Rights or replace the Act by a more humane legislation".
The Committee has urged all to respond within 30 days to its office in New Delhi and gave the address as, The Committee to Review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, near Gate No 23 A, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi 110003.Set up on November 19, the Committee members include Lt Gen (Retd) VR Raghavan, former DG Military Operations; PP Shrivastav, former Special Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs; Dr Shivaraj Nakade, former VC of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University and Sanjoy Hazarika, journalist.