New Delhi, October 06: The Union Home Ministry has endorsed the recommendation of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

It has, however, strongly suggested that suitable amendments be made in the Unlawful Activities Act to provide immunity to security personnel involved in counter-insurgency operations in the North East.

The Ministry has conveyed its views to the Prime Minister�s Office, stating that some provisions of the AFPSA be retained in the Unlawful Activities Act as was done in the case of Pota.

Highly-placed Government sources said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would soon discuss the issue with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Law Minister HR Bhardwaj.

If the Government decides to repeal AFSPA, the proposal will require Cabinet approval before it is placed in Parliament.

The Government had constituted the five-member AFSPA review panel in November last year in the wake of large-scale protests following the killing of Th Manorama Devi by Assam Rifles personnel in Manipur.

The Act is currently in force in Manipur, Assam and Nagaland.

During a meeting with demonstrators, the PM had stressed on the need to give the Act a more �humane face�.

The Home Ministry held detailed discussions with Chief Ministers, senior political leaders and voluntary organisations from the North East after the committee submitted its report a few months ago.

The majority view, the Ministry officials said, was that the Act be scrapped.

�There was a strong feeling among the people from the region that the Act was discriminatory.

But they agreed that any stringent law being used by security forces in other parts of the country should be extended to the North East also,� a senior Ministry official said.

The Home Ministry has also argued that if amendments are made in the Unlawful Activities Act on repeal of AFSPA, it can be used effectively even in Naxal-affected areas.

As of now, a region has to be declared a disturbed area for AFSPA to be enforced there.