Imphal, June 9: A questionnaire prepared by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has raised the hackles of the Apunba Lup, a conglomerate of 32 organisations fighting against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Manipur.

The question (number 120) of the general awareness paper of the commission’s section officer (audit) recruitment examination asked the candidates “What is Apunba Lup?” It was a multiple-choice question and four options were given to the candidates. One option, which was supposed to be the answer, read that Apunba Lup is “the apex body of different militant groups leading agitation against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act”, leaders of the umbrella organisation said. The all-India level examination was held on Sunday. The Apunba Lup circulated photostat copies of the question paper here.

Reacting to the “wrong and misleading” answer provided by the recruitment body, the Apunba Lup said in a statement here today that it was an attempt to tarnish the image of a lawful organisation which was fighting for the protection of human rights.

“The Apunba Lup was formed against the armed forces act after the Thangjam Manorama episode to protect the right and lives of innocent people in Manipur. Its member organisations are all lawful organisations. The attempt to project the Apunba Lup as a body of militant groups should be condemned in the strongest terms,” the statement said.

The Apunba Lup spearheaded the violent agitation against the armed forces act after the killing of Thangjam Manorama, 32, by troops of the Assam Rifles after her alleged rape in July last year.

The agitation forced the Centre to constitute the armed forces act review committee headed by Justice B.B. Jeevan Reddy. The commission submitted its report to the Centre a few days ago.