Manipur state to partially lift Anti-terror law

Indian students from the country's northeastern state of Manipur take part in a rally in Bangalore yesterday to protest the alleged killing in military custody of a 30-year-old woman, Thangjam Manorama on July 11. Manipur, which has been rocked by protests since the death of Manorama, is to lift the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, a controversial anti-terror law, in some areas after weeks of bitter and often violent demonstrations. PHOTO: AFP

The state has been rocked by protests since the alleged killing in military custody of a 30-year-old woman, Thangjam Manorama, on July 11. Paramilitary forces say she was a leading rebel and died in a gunbatle.

Rights groups have demanded an end to the law which gives the military sweeping powers to shoot on sight and detain without warrant as part of its crackdown on Manipur's insurgency.

The state's chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh announced the decision after a two-hour cabinet meeting in the state capital Imphal, an official told AFP by telephone.

"We have decided to partially lift the Armed Forces Special Powers Act on a trial basis from 27 municipal areas in the capital Imphal, besides parts of greater Imphal, comprising east and west districts," Singh told reporters.