Imphal, December 28: Amidst tight security arrangements around the Lamphel court premise of Manipur Human Rights Commission, victims of human rights abuse, families/relatives of the victims, social and human rights activists deposed before members of the Committee to Review the Armed Forces Special Powers Act today.

A six member delegation, unofficially considered as the moderate faction of the Apunba Lup also showed up and submitted a 120 page report detailing cases of rape and molestation of women folks by security force personnel, forced disappearance of arrested persons, list of torture, extra-judicial killings ever since AFSPA was imposed in Manipur.

The proceedings were conducted in-camera as requested by the individuals, said informed sources.

Among those who narrated their tales of woe to the panel members were a house wife - Moirangthem Ongbi Leirikmacha Devi - from Moirang area of Bishnupur district who was raped by Army personnel on April 4, 1998.Prior to giving her testimony before the panel, she said her decision to participate in the hearing is based on the expectations that no other women in Manipur will face the trauma that she underwent.

"Since the day i was raped by the demon in army fatigue my chastity has been lost and I gathered the strength to depose before the AFSPA review panel to demand repealing of the repressive Act," she added.

Parents of school boy K Ojit highlighting the pain and agony of having lost their child at such a tender age, also fervently urged the Review Committee members to scrap AFSPA without further delay.

Ojit, from Bashikhong, was allegedly killed in the custody of Assam Rifles in 1997.The other persons who came forth to present their respective accounts on the first day of the three day sitting included former MP W Kulabidhu, members of JAC Against the Killing of W Brojen Singh, Torbung Bungte, L Krishnamohan & Pramo Devi and Ajay Pebam of Keisamthong.

Some personnel of 57 Mountain Division led by its GOC also turned up with slide projectors to present their side of the story on the AFSPA issue before the panel.

The representation of the moderate Apunba Lup contained comprehensive report on excesses committed by Central security forces and urged the panel to recommend the immediate repealing of AFSPA �in the interest of the citizens of the country in general and the Manipuri people in particular�.

The Lup members also reiterated that the only demand of the people of Manipur is scrapping of the repressive act.

Elaborating that the Act has been modified in post independent India, the Lup said the Act has become more savage and inhuman when compared to the 1942 Ordinance announced by the Britishers.

The memorandum also reminded the review panel of the staunch opposition of the Manipuri people to the continued imposition of the said Act for decades.

Despite the fact that the Act is draconian by any standard and gives unbridled power to security personnel to eliminate anybody any given time and the entire population of North East region prone to face undesired consequences the Indian parliament undermining the public sentiment hastily passed the Bill.

�In this way the Act, which contradicts the right to life of the citizens guaranteed by the very Constitution of the country, was born to repress the democratic voice and movement of the people in this part of world,� pointed out the Lup memo.

Former Vice Chancellor of BAM University, who is among the five member review panel said the public hearing would be conducted throughout the whole of North East States and the report submitted to the centre within the time frame of six months.

Mention may be made that hard-liners of the Apunba Lup had asked the people to boycott the Review Committee team members and even imposed public curfew in and around the MHRC premise to discourage people from deposing before the panel.

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