The CPI (M) and CPI differed on the question of repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958. A five-member review committee appointed by the Centre to make suggestions on AFSPA, heard nine organisations and 16 individuals on the law which rocked Manipur since July last year after the murder and rape of Manorama Devi, allegedly by the jawans of Assam Rifles. CPI (M) central committee member Hemen Das favoured retention of AFSPA after necessary modifications by removing the 'draconian' provisions of the law which violated human and democratic rights. However, CPI national executive member Pramod Gogoi said that his party preferred repeal of the Act. ''We have been demanding repeal of AFSPA since 1980,'' he said. If not repealed, it should be modified, he added. ''Incidents like the Manorama Devi episode should not happen,'' he said. Both parties favoured withdrawing the army from the North-East and handing over the law and order issue to respective state police and para-military forces. Mr. Das said steps should be taken to modernise the state police to tackle various law and order related problems, including insurgency. State police at best should be backed by para-military forces, he said. Mr. Gogoi said the Army could be deployed if so desired by respective Deputy Commissioners or by respective state governments in the North-East to meet any exigency and not on regular law and order maintenance related job.

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