Jammu and Kashmir MLA meets Irom Sharmila family
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 10 2013:
An independent legislature from Jammu and Kashmir along with a group of human rights defenders of the militancy-hit state met the family members of anti-AFSPA crusader Irom Sharmila Chanu at her Kongpal residence in Imphal East today.
Legislature Sheikh Abdul Rashid popularly known as Engineer Rashid and his team members were instrumental in supporting ' Kashmir to Imphal'a joint antiArmed Forces (Special Powers ) Act (AFSPA) campaign held in October 2011 .
Sadly the MLA along with his team members abortively attempted to meet the 'Iron lady of Manipur' on Wednesday to show solidarity to her struggle at the security ward of the state-run hospital as the state authorities denied permission.
A trustee of Just Peace Foundation (JPF), an Imphal-based trust set up to support Sharmila's heroic struggle Singhajit recalled that the MLA with his team members extended their unstinted support to the 'Kashmir to Imphal' campaign against the army act in October 2011 .
He said JPF along with likeminded bodies will hold a national level campaign against AFSPA probably in March for which ground works have been started.
"Since Jammu and Kashmir and some NE states including Manipur are facing the security forces' excesses under the shadow of the draconian act, we have endorsed to struggle together with them (J&K team) in any campaign against the act in future," Singhajit said.