Tripura revokes emergency law

A remote Indian state has withdrawn a long-standing controversial law that handed security forces sweeping powers to fight insurgents, saying it was no longer needed, a top official said yesterday.

The draconian law, covering parts of northeastern India and restive Kashmir, gives forces the right to search property and shoot-on-sight and is seen by critics as cover for grave human rights abuses.

The law is still imposed in other northeastern states including Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.

AFSPA was introduced in tiny Tripura in 1997 in the wake of stepped up attacks by militants bordering Bangladesh. The law was also introduced in 1990 in Indian Kashmir to give army and paramilitary forces there extensive powers to detain people and use deadly force.

Governments say security forces need the powers to help them battle multiple rebel groups whose long-standing demands range from secession to greater autonomy and land rights. But human rights groups say it provides cover for soldiers who are regularly accused of murder and rape, but they cannot be prosecuted unless the national government gives its sanction.