PM hands over Kangla in Imphal healing touch

It was at Kangla Fort that the Assam Rifles had been based till recently and some of its men had become the focus of statewide hatred over the custody death of a young woman, Manorama Devi. The anger centred on the repeated abuse of the Armed Forces Special Powers’ Act.

Singh said that a committee on the Act would submit its recommendations within the next six months. ‘‘The committee will suggest checks and balances in the Act or replacing it with a more humane law which takes into account your legitimate aspirations and national security concerns,’’ he said.

One section of the Apunba Lup, a coalition of various Manipuri groups, is not willing to accept anything short of a complete repeal of the Act. The other section is willing to listen to assurances on replacing it.

It was the latter that eventually met Singh at Raj Bhavan after the Kangla Fort rally and demanded replacement of the AFSPA before December 10, the international day for human rights. ‘‘The Prime Minister told us that he will try to expedite the process and get the committee to submit their recommendations before the six-month time frame. But he was non-committal on whether the Act will actually be replaced,’’ Surjit Singh, a member of the delegation, told The Sunday Express.

Hardliners like the All Manipur Students Union were not part of this team and have decided to restart their agitation by enforcing a “ban” on NCC and the teaching of Hindi in colleges. “The PM had nothing for us. We do not accept this committee and will again agitate. The mere handing over of the Kangla Fort means nothing. We want the AFSPA to be repealed,” said Y. Devadutta, Apunba Lup co-ordinator for All Manipur Students Union.

Singh, however, made it clear during the convocation address at Manipur University that he had tried to strike a balance between national security and the aspirations of Manipur people by setting up this committee. “This should satisfy all,” he said adding that the occasional aberration on the part of the Armed Forces does not mean they were not here to uphold the rule of law.

Singh, who arrived today to a city shut down by a bandh call given by the banned Revolutionary People’s Force, said: “I dream of a Manipur free of violence. When that day dawns we will also have a Manipur free of security forces who are now there to deal with that violence.”

Singh promised that rule of law would prevail regardless of who broke the law.