UN asks India to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act

The United Nations has asked India to repeal the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, saying it had no role to play in a democracy.This comes amid clamour for withdrawal of AFSPA from Kashmir. A United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur today urged India to repeal the controversial law that gives its military special powers to act in troubled areas. Christof Heyns, UN's Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, told reporters here that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has become a "symbol of excessive state power" and "has no role to play in a democracy".