The controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act is in place in Manipur for the last 55 years. While the forces claim it is impossible to improve the security situation without it, its frequent abuse has led to the death and disappearance of many youths, it has led to rape of women by security force personnel. While Irom Sharmila's marathon fast has kept the focus on the issue, 55 years is enough time to take stock of what the imposition of AFSPA has yielded. Senior journalist and author of 'Highway 39' Sudeep Chakravarti joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue.
Q. Hi Sudeep. two questions. First a hypothetical question. AFSPA has to go. But is there a plan how it should go? Gradual phasing out? Absence of AFSPA is essential for peace in Manipur but do you fear some kind of a vacuum once it goes? Second question: Example of any specific counterinsurgency operation that AFSPA has helped? Asked by: Arijit Sen
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05:57 PM, May 23, 2013
Activist Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been on fast for more than 12 years demanding repeal of the 'draconian' Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur, was re-arrested by state police, officials said on Thursday. ...
02:25 PM, Mar 14, 2013
BJP on Tuesday expressed its disagreement with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over repealing of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, saying the state should not speak against this law as it has already passed a similar legislation in its Assembly. ...
07:28 PM, Mar 05, 2013
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) should be repealed from the places where Army is not required. Omar said the issue of AFSPA is not on the "backburner", and if Irom Sharmila can fast in protest against AFSPA for 12 long years why can't he just speak against it. ...
05:09 PM, Mar 05, 2013
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has strongly come out in support of lifting the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). Omar, who was speaking in the state Assembly, also praised northeast activist Irom Sharmila's fight for the repeal of AFSPA. ...
04:07 PM, Mar 05, 2013
In a shocking incident, several personnel of the Punjab Police were caught on camera beating up a woman in Taran Taran on Sunday. The woman had reportedly complained of sexual harassment. ...
11:58 PM, Mar 04, 2013
In Tarn Taran, Punjab, a young woman and her father were beaten up mercilessly by policemen after they complained of sexual harassment. ...
09:50 PM, Mar 04, 2013
Activist Irom Sharmila Chanu, who on Monday was charged with attempting suicide for her fast unto death here in 2006 while demanding repeal of controversial AFSPA, said she is following Mahatma Gandhi's principle of non-violence and should not be "discriminated" against. ...
06:00 PM, Mar 04, 2013
In an interview to CNN-IBN, Irom Sharmila said that she loved life and was only using fast as a means of protest. ...
05:42 PM, Mar 04, 2013
Will Irom Sharmila's fast bear fruit, will AFSPA be repealed? Pradip Phanjoubam, editor of Imphal Free Press joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue. ...
05:37 PM, Mar 04, 2013
Demanding revocation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, (AFSPA) over 30 supporters of Manipur's "Iron Lady" Irom Sharmila Chanu gathered outside Patiala House Court Monday morning and raised slogans in support of her campaign. The renowned rights activist has been on an indefinite hunger strike since Nov 2, 2000 in Manipur, demanding the withdrawal of AFSPA from the state after witnessing the killing of 10 people by the army...
01:01 PM, Mar 04, 2013
A Delhi court has framed charges against anti-AFSPA activist Irom 'Chanu' Sharmila 'for attempting to commit suicide' under Section 309 of IPC on March 4, 2013. Sharmila has refused to plead guilty to the charges. ...
12:00 PM, Mar 04, 2013
Irom Sharmila, Manipur's "iron lady", appeared in New Delhi's Patiala Court on Monday in an attempt to suicide case. Sharmila has been on a fast-unto-death stir against the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). ...
11:00 AM, Mar 04, 2013
Social activist Irom Sharmila, who has been on a hunger strike for about 12 years demanding repeal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), will be produced before a Delhi court on Monday. ...
06:13 AM, Mar 04, 2013
Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila will be brought to New Delhi on Sunday for a court appearance. The court has summoned her in connection with her fast unto death stir against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. ...
08:12 AM, Mar 03, 2013
Guwahati: A film on Iron Lady Irom Sharmila, famed for her decade-long hunger strike to protest against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur, would be the highlight at the ninth edition of the two-day ADDA short film festival beginning here tomorrow. Filmmaker Barun Thokchom has captured a different angle of Sharmila's life as a poet in his film 'The Silent Poet'. The film would be screened along with...
04:49 PM, Dec 07, 2012
It's 12 years to the day since Irom Sharmila went on fast against AFSPA. It's a neck-and-neck race between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. ...
11:46 PM, Nov 05, 2012
Irom Sharmila, Manipur's 'Iron Lady', on Monday completed 12 years of protest demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). ...
11:26 PM, Nov 05, 2012
She is protesting against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. ...
07:18 PM, Nov 05, 2012
Irom Sharmila is in love. As soon as you say this, a great deal of wonder and hatred follows, for many there is complete surprise ...
02:59 PM, Nov 05, 2012
