Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday hoped that a more "humane" law that protects national security and human rights of the people of Manipur would be in place as early as possible, once the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, is reviewed.

"It is my sincere desire to find credible ways and means… while protecting the interests of national security and safeguarding the fundamental human rights of our citizens," he said in Imphal at the end of his two-day visit to Manipur.

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The state has been witnessing protests, often violent, since July, when Assam Rifles personnel allegedly raped and killed a 32-year-old woman, Thangjam Manorama.

A committee headed by a former Supreme Court judge, Jeevan Reddy, will look into the functioning of the Act, Singh said.

The committee -- which has six months to complete the task -- will see its weaknesses and, if necessary, replace it with a more "humane" Act, he added.

The PM recalled his meeting with a Manipur delegation and said he told them that they should not be rigid on setting any deadline, as "we are a country of great complexities and diversities".

"This Act is there since 1958 and we have now come across some aberrations," he said.

"I appeal to brothers and sisters to cooperate with us in the test of our sincerity and to strengthen the cause of peace."

He also invited all sections of the civil society in Manipur and the political parties in this endeavour, and said, "Let us create a climate where I think it will not be necessary to take recourse to such Act."

Asked if he has any package for the state, the PM said he has been given a list of projects and "we are alive to the needs of Manipur for its accelerated development".

"I am not going about selling packages or distributing money… I am not here to win the loyalty on the basis of packages," he said clarifying that the Jammu and Kashmir government had drawn his attention to projects and programmes to accelerate development, to which he responded constructively.