Imphal, December 28: Reiterating its stand only the total repeal of AFSPA will be acceptable to the people of Manipur and not review or replacement of the Act, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has called upon all concerned not to be misled by a group of people posing as Apunba Lup representatives.

In a statement the Lup highlighted that the constitution of the review committee instead of a repeal panel clearly demonstrates the intention of the Indian Government to empower its security force personnel to commit atrocities for another six months.

The constitution of committee also tantamount to ignoring the very fact that several innocent citizens of Manipur still remain un-traceable while many were shot dead in fake encounters besides rape and molestation of women, observed the Lup.

Questioning the sincerity of the Central Govt, which had no hesitation in scrapping the controversial POTA, the Lup asked why AFSPA could not be removed even after the draconian nature of the Act has been exposed for all to see and hear.

There is little meaning in committee coming to Imphal to feel the pulse of the public in relation to the Act when uncountable number of memoranda had been already submitted to the State and Central Govts for its removal.

Moreover people have taken to the streets on many occasions to denounce the atrocities committed by the security under the immunity granted by the Act, maintained the Lup.

It also appealed to all the women organisations, youth and social bodies not to fall in the trap and depose before the Review Committee members and to stay alert from being lured by the national reactionary group.

Meanwhile stepping up their civil disobedience movement, volunteers of Apunba Lup today burnt the effigies of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and chairman of AFSPA Review Committee BP Jeevan Reddy at Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi this evening.

The agitators also shouted slogans demanding repeal of AFSAP and denounced the excesses of the security forces.

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