Repeal 'draconian' AFSPA: CPI(M)

Latching onto Supreme Court's judgement that use of "excessive force" by security forces not permissible under AFSPA, CPI(M) today said it was imperative that the Union government heeds to it and repeals the "draconian" law.
Yesterday, while dealing with a PIL on alleged 1528 extra-judicial killings in Manipur from 2000 to 2012 by security forces and police, the apex court had said the situation in the north-eastern state has "never been one of war".
"The Supreme Court judgement on the use of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has underlined how this draconian law is a threat to the safety and lives of citizens.

"The court has held that such killings are 'destructive of the rule of law and plainly unconstitutional'. It is imperative that the government heed the judgement and repeal the AFSPA," party Politburo said in a statement.
Last year, the CPI(M)-led Tripura government had revoked the act, saying insurgency was on the wane in the state. The AFSPA was in force in Tripura since 1997.
The court had said killing of citizens on suspicion that they are the "enemy" gravely endangers the democracy and held use of "excessive force" by the armed forces or police was not permissible in "disturbed areas" under the AFSPA.