AGARTALA, November 5 (TIWN): A one day sit fasting protest on demand of repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958 (AFSPA) from Tripura was organized by Borok People Human Rights Organization in collaboration with various students organization at orient Chowhumani here today.

The members of the organization which organized sit fasting protest in Orient Chowhumani here shouted slogans demanding repeal of the act which gives ample power to the paramilitary forces and army to arrest any person in the name of combating insurgency.

Anthony Debbarma of Borok People Human Rights Organisation, speaking as a resource person, detailed the atrocities committed under the shadow of AFSPA in Tripura. The act is in force in most parts of the region. Many human rights activists and NGOs have criticised it, complaining of custodial torture, extra-judicial killings, and sexual harassment of women because of the special powers with immunity the act gives the security forces, he mentioned.

The organization also spread leaflets which said, the act is 'draconian' which infringed the right to common people. This act is invoked in the state when the insurgency was in its peak in the state, he added.

He further said the act was passed by parliament Aug 18, 1958, and was signed by then president Sep 11, 1958, and then invoked by various state governments, namely Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir to counter the growth of the insurgency movement.

It is to be mentioned here that several human rights groups, including the North East Students' Organisation, have also been demanding withdrawal of the AFSPA.