New Delhi: There is no proposal to withdraw application of the Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers (Amendment) Act, 1972, amended version of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, from Manipur, excluding the Imphal Municipal area, and Nagaland, Government told the Lok Sabha today (Aug 17, 2004).

The Act is applicable to all North Eastern States, Minister of State for Home Manikrao Hodlya Gavit said in a written reply.

He said in exercise of powers conferred under Section 3 of the Act, the whole of the States of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, excluding the Imphal Municipal area, 34 police stations in Tripura (28 police stations in full and six police stations in part), Tirap and Changlang districts in Arunachal Pradesh and 20-km belt in Meghalaya, Arunachal and Nagaland bordering Assam have been declared as "disturbed areas".

Strict instructions have been given to the security forces to observe the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in its judgement on November 27,1997 and do's and don'ts issued by the Army headquarters which are binding, he said.

There has been persistent demand from people of Manipur for vacation of Kungla Fort by the Assam Rifles, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said in reply to another question.

He said the construction work at new location is at advanced stage and likely to be completed soon.

Basic facilities like approach road, electricity and water supply at new location are being provided by the State Government to enable Assam Rifles to shift there, he said.