Controversial security law to be changed - India PM

INDIA: A controversial security law in northeastern India that critics say has been misused to kill and torture suspects will be amended, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday.

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA), is intended to help fight the more than two-dozen insurgencies active in the remote area.

Human rights activists have demanded its repeal, saying it has been brazenly misused to kill, arrest and torture people on mere suspicion of being insurgents or supporters of the revolts.

Several movements have been organised in the past to put pressure on the government to repeal the law, including a six-year hunger-strike by a Manipuri activist who is currently in a hospital in New Delhi.

"I believe we need to consider some amendments to the act by modifying existing provisions or inserting new provisions, whereby it could be made more humane giving due regard to the protection of basic human and civil rights." Singh said on a brief visit to the state capital Imphal.

"The armed forces are here to enforce the rule of law, to punish the law breaker and ensure safety of Manipuris. Ocasionally, the acts of a few may have become the object of public resentment," he added.

Rebel groups, seeking independence of Manipur from India, called for a public boycott of Singh's visit.

The streets of Imphal were deserted and schools and shops were shut in protest.

Singh said the federal home (interior) ministry was working on the proposed amendments.

Officials say more than 20,000 people have died in the decades old revolt in the tiny landlocked state which shares its border with Myanmar.

IMPHAL, Sunday, Reuters