PUCL demands scrapping of AFSPA

Rights organisation People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) today demanded withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the states and urged the Supreme Court to declare it unconstitutional.
"In view of the latest report of abuse of the AFSPA, the PUCL again demands its withdrawal from the states where it is in force and its repeal from the statute book.
"We hope that apex court will take note of the report and declare it unconstitutional as it has been found by all enquiry committees to have been misused again and again," said Mahi Pal Singh, National Secretary PUCL in a statement.

The demand came after a Supreme Court appointed judicial commission reportedly highlighted the "rampant and gross misuse" of AFSPA for fake encounters and gross violation of human rights by the security forces in Manipur.
Singh said it justifies the demand for repeal of the Act by the PUCL and other human rights organisations and activists like Irom Sharmila, who has been on fast against the Act for last 12 years.
He said that even Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee and Justice J S Verma Committee had also found that the impunity clauses in the Act provided a shield to the security personnel for indulging in fake encounters and sexual violence against women in areas where this Act is in force.