Imphal, August 12: Chief Minister O Ibobi has kept his words, albeit with a rider.

The State Cabinet today decided to lift the Disturbed Area Act from the Imphal Municipal areas on a trial basis, in the backdrop of the intense agitation demanding the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the State.

With the DAA de-notified, the AFSPA will automatically lapse in the areas covered under the Imphal Municipality.

A notification announcing the revocation of DAA from the said areas was issued by the Special Secretary (Home) S Dinokumar today.

Following the decision to revoke the said Act, the 6 SPF MLAs and two Ministers who had threatened to resign from the Assembly have dropped their stand.

The CPI too has dropped its ultimatum to snap ties with the SPF.

Imphal Municipal area covers an approximate area of 34 square kms and seven Assembly Constituencies and 27 Municipal wards.

About 10 per cent of the total population of Manipur live in the Imphal Municipal areas.

The Assembly segments which come under the Imphal Municipal areas are Thangmeiband AC, Uripok AC, Keishamthong AC, Yaiskul AC, Wangkhei AC, Singjamei AC and Sagolband AC.

The Disturbed Area Act was first introduced in the State at Tamenglong in 1961 and spread to the other parts of the State in phases.

The entire State of Manipur was declared disturbed on September 8, 1980.Speaking at a packed media conference at the CM's bungalow today evening, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that the Disturbed Area Act has been lifted from the Imphal Municipal areas keeping in mind the sentiments and wishes of the people.

Ibobi said that the custodial death of Th Manorama is ample testimony of the fact that the security personnel have been committing excesses and atrocities under the immunity granted by the AFSPA.

The demand raised by the people is justified, said the Chief Minister and it was to redress the grievances of the people that the Cabinet decided to lift the DAA from certain parts of the State.

The Cabinet met from 11 am and decided to lift the said Act after thoroughly discussing the sentiments and aspirations of the people, he added.

Appealing to the people to accept the partial lifting of the Act, the Chief Minister said that if the law and order situation improves, then the Government will not waste a single minute in lifting the Act from other parts of the State too.

State forces will be deployed in full strength to deal with the law and order situation in the de-notified areas, said the Chief Minister and cautioned that if the situation turns volatile at the Imphal Municipal areas, then either the Centre or the State Government may re-impose the same Act again.

To a question on whether the Centre has agreed to the lifting of the Act, the Chief Minister replied that New Delhi is not keen on lifting the Act as it entails questions of National security and integrity.

Ibobi however assured that the Centre will be asked not to re-impose the Act and to accept the decision of the State Cabinet.

As the people could no longer tolerate the excesses and atrocities of the security personnel ever since the AFSPA was imposed in the State, the demand for lifting the Act was raised on such an unprecedented manner, he observed.

The Chief Minister also expressed hope that the people of Manipur will extend their co-operation to the decision of the Govt to lift the Act from certain parts of the State.

Striking a firm stand, the Chief Minister said that the Government will not tolerate if any organization or any anti-social elements raise anti-National slogans or try to promote any secessionist movements.

On the charges of the Opposition that it is within the rights of the State Govt to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the Chief Minister said that the Nagaland Government had twice scrapped the said Act but the Centre stepped in and re-imposed the same again.

This fact should not be lost on the Opposition, he added.

On Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been on a fast unto death agitation demanding the revocation of AFSPA since 2000 after the Malom massacre, the Chief Minister said he personally conveyed the decision of the Government to lift the DAA from certain parts of the State to Sharmila today.

Ibobi expressed hope that the Sharmila will end her fast soon.

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