SHILLONG, Sept 5: India's interior minister has ruled out lifting an unpopular law giving the army widespread powers of arrest in the country's remote northeast, despite two months of bitter protests in the state of Manipur.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil said late on Saturday that the measure would not be lifted because it was needed to counter militant groups scattered across the northeast fighting for independence from India.

"The ground situation in Manipur is not favourable to lift the Armed Forces Special Powers Act at the moment," he said. "If the situation improves the law will not be needed in the state."

"We are living in a democracy. We are not rigid. If there is anything to be considered by us we will definitely take appropriate action," he added, after meeting chief ministers from the seven northeastern states in Shillong, the capital of Megahalaya.

The law, in force through most of the remote and troubled region, grants soldiers the power to search and detain suspects without reference to civilian authorities. Shops, offices and schools closed in Manipur after the strike call and overland transport to the state was halted.

Manipur has been on the boil since July when troops seized 30-year-old Thangjam Manorama from her house and killed her. The army says she was wanted as a rebel and was shot dead while trying to escape.

Army chief General N.C. Vij, who visited Manipur on Friday, said the army had agreed to take DNA samples from 33 soldiers to establish whether they raped her. -Reuters