Imphal, August 10: Reacting to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil�s statement during an interview with NDTV yesterday wherein he said that Armed Forces Special Powers Act is being imposed in those States plagued with insurgency problem, Keishamthong Assembly Constituency MLA L Ibomcha has questioned why the said Act has to be enforced only in North East States if there is any truth in what the Union Minister had said.

There are States like Tamil Nadu which is being overpowered by LTTE activists, Andhra Pradesh where People�s War Group elements are having ruling the roost and Bihar where the people are being subjected atrocities even unimaginable by people living in insurgency infested areas, Ibomcha pointed out to drive home his point on why an Act passed by Indian Parliament has to be imposed only in the North Eastern States if it is actually meant for countering insurgency problem.

As to Union Minister�s assertion Centre is ready to withdraw Assam Rifles from Manipur and send Border Security Forces in their place, the MLA observed that it would not solve the existing problem at all.

The move smacks of an attempt by the Union Home Minister to save the face of the Assam Rifles and to cover up the guilty AR personnel, he said making it clear that what the people of Manipur actually want is removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act which is akin to giving �license to kill� innocent people.

The present turmoil in the State is the result of the numerous instances of human rights violation committed by security forces under the repressive Act over the past 40 years, and Union Minister should have refrained from making the statement without understanding the ground realities, Ibomcha stated.

If even if he plans to withdraw Assam Rifles from Manipur, the guilty AR personnel involved in killing of Thangjam Manorama should be handed over to the infuriated people of the State, he demanded.

As to the contention of the Union Home Minister that withdrawal of AFSPA and Disturbed Area Status would increase extortion from public by insurgents, Ibomcha reacted by saying that it is not the insurgents but Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and his Council of Ministers who are actually fleecing the public.

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