New Delhi: Many Manipuris want the Armed Forces' (Special Powers) Act scrapped and now a government-appointed committee too has suggested that the stringent provisions of the Act must go.
The Act gives sweeping powers to the Army and allows it to make arrests and searches without warrant.
A 147-page report of the Justice BP Jeevan Reddy Committee - a copy of which is now with CNN-IBN - clearly advises the government to repeal the Act.
But Home Ministry sources indicate that the Government is in no mood to do so.
CNN-IBN has learnt that the Government is only willing to implement the report in parts and is keen on including all provisions of the Act in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and re-impose it in Manipur.
The Government view is that the provisions are necessary, as it needs to walk a tightrope when it comes to policing Manipur.
It has decided to follow a wait-and-watch policy and is in consultation with the Army to decide the fate of the Act.
Manipuri activists caution that retaining the Act may spark off a fresh round of protests in the state. Activist Jhonson Slangbam says the people of India have not seen the real picture of what is happening in Manipur.
Manipuri activists say that like Irom Sharmila many young women will start a non-violent crusade against the Act. Sharmila, has been on a hunger-strike for the past six years against the Act.
Alleged human rights abuses in the state culminated in a first of its kind protest from a group of elderly women in Imphal two years back.
The protests came in the wake of alleged torture, rape and killing of Manorama Devi, a young Manipuri activist, by personnel of Assam Rifles.
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