Saturday, January 22 2005 10:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Committee reviewing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) yesterday (Jan 21, 2005) said that it had asked the Governments of all the seven North-Eastern States to submit their views on the controversial act.

Briefing reporters, Justice (retd) B P Jeevan Reddy said that the committee would be visiting three North-Eastern States from February 7 and later again, during which all State Governments would submit their representations to the Committee.

About the committee's hearing yesterday, Justice Reddy said that Army and Home Ministry officials submitted their views on the Act. He, however, declined to give out the views.

On the Committee's visit to Manipur, he said that it had heard a cross section of views. "We had gone there with an open heart and an open mind," he said.

Brother of Manorama Devi, whose killing had sparked off violent protests in Manipur in July last year, had met the committee members and expressed his views on the Act, he said.

Former Special Secretary in the Home Ministry and member of the Committee P P Shrivasthav had said that they met a large section of people, including a faction of Apunba Lup, who demanded withdrawal of the Act.

The Committee, headed by Justice Reddy, was formed ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit in November last year prior to which the State witnessed large-scale protests against the Act.