◆Ms. Sharmila asks Mr. Modi to repeal AFSPA
【New Delhi】It is time India considers a repeal of AFSPA not merely out of a concern for human rights but also out of a desire to refocus its internal security regime. Such a law is inconsistent with the structure and spirit of our democracy and brings down India’s image at the global high table.
Ms. Irom Chanu Sharmila, who is a civil rights activist, political activist, and poet from the Indian state of Manipur and has been on hunger strike for 14 years, has asked the controversial and draconian for the human rights community Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, better known by its acronym, AFSPA. She has promised to break her long fast if Mr. Modi assures her that AFSPA will be repealed.
AFSPA confers special powers on the armed forces to respond at will in “disturbed areas” in order to maintain law and order. In a “disturbed area,” a military officer can fire upon an unlawful assembly of five or more people if the need arises or even for illegal possession of fire arms. The military is free to use force, even causing death to those suspected of possible violence. No arrest and search warrants are required for any operation as in the provisions of the law.
Under the blanket powers it confers on soldiers, there is always the fear of its misuse. The law is presently in force in whole or in parts of the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
○Nine students arrested in Kerala for anti-Modi remarks in campus magazine
【Guruvayur】Nine students of the Sree Krishna college at Guruvayur in Kerala were today arrested in the case related to campus magazine containing unsavoury remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, police said.
Those arrested, and let off on bail soon, included student editor of the magazine, its sub-editors and editorial advisory committee members, police said.They had been charged under various Sections of the IPC including 153 (wantonly giving provocation, punishment for defamation and printing matter known to be defamatory).
○40,000 activists from TMC, Congress & CPM in Bengal join BJP
【Kolkata】About 40,000 political workers in Jangalmahal belonging to parties including Trinamool Congress, Congress and CPM switched their allegiance and joined the BJP.
The state president of the BJP, Rahul Sinha — who held several meetings at Lodhashuli, Gopiballavpur, Nayagram and Mohanpur in Jangalmahal area on Sunday — claimed that the workers had joined the party in the hope that it would be able to counter ruling Trinamool Congress' reign of terror in the state since the recent Lok Sabha elections.
【News source】
Counter to the spirit of counter-insurgency
9 students arrested for anti-Modi remarks
Nine students arrested in Kerala for anti-Modi remarks in campus magazine
Nine students arrested for anti-Modi remarks
40,000 activists from TMC, Congress & CPM in Bengal join BJP
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