Imphal, August 18: The Association For Protection Of Democratic Rights (APDR) Hooghly District Committee, President Amitadyuti Kumar, and Secretary, Sanjib Acharya yesterday submitted a memorandum to the President Abdul Kalam urging him to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act and recall central forces from Manipur.

They said the people of Manipur is agitating for almost half a century for repealing Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the recent incident of rape and killing of yet another Manipuri woman by security forces compelled the people to rise with all their might.

Almost every international institution and even the NHRC and all human rights bodies in the country condemned the AFSPA as a draconian and repressive act.

Continued use of this act only alienated the Manipuri People from the rest of India it said.

The almost four years long hunger strike by Sharmila Irom, naked demonstration by Manipuri women before security force HQ and the self immolation of Pebam on the Independence Day are only indicative of the utter desperation of the people of the area, who want their voice be heard.

They appealed to repeal the AFSPA and Disturbed area status, whose constitutional validity are also not unanimously accepted and to recall all central security forces from the area, except from the international border.

It may be noted that the APDR is a part of the countrywide civil and human rights movement.

Since its inception in 1972, the Association with its branches spread throughout West Bengal, India has been working for protection of civil and democratic rights of the people and against all forms of state repression.

It is one of the founder members of the All India Co-ordination committee of Human Rights, Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights Organizations.

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