Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 28:
In consonance with the ruling of the Principal Seat of the Gauhati high Court, the State Government today released hunger striker Irom Sharmila Chanu.
Jail authorities released the 32 year old woman from the security ward of JN Hospital this morning at around 9.30.Upon her insistence, Sharmila was shifted to the Nupilan Memorial Complex by human rights activists where she continued her agitation demanding removal of AFSPA for a brief period without nasal feeding before she taken to her Kongpal Kongkham residence.
"Since she had been released by the order of the High Court we have nothing to do with her," commented some police officials who were supervising security at the Nupilan Memorial Complex.
On September 21, a division bench of the principal Seat asked the State Government to release Sharmila unless she was required to be detained for other cases.
The ruling, however, maintained that the State authorities would be at liberty to take care of her health and other nutritional requirements.
Acting Chief Justice D Biswas and Justice Ranjan Gogoi issued the significant verdict following a writ petition filed by lawyers of human rights Law Networks (HRLN) challenging the detention of Sharmila on the State�s allegation that she was trying to commit suicide, which is a punishable offence under Section 309 IPC.
Sharmila has no intention of committing suicide, but only wished to protest peacefully and thus Sec 309 is not applicable in her case, the petition said while praying to the Court to release her from judicial custody.
Till late evening the State Government has not made any statement over whether they will look after her health and provide medical care as was observed in the Court ruling.
"I have not changed my stance and will continue fasting till the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is removed completely from Manipur," Sharmila said at Nupilan Complex.
"Moreover, I would like to stay the rest of my life in a quiet place where no religious or political leader will bind me," she said while stating that her life is very short and added "I am half dead".
Womenfolk and human rights defenders who kept vigil on the hunger striker affirmed to do whatever Sharmila desires to do.
Sharmila�s elder brother I Shinghajit reiterated �we will not go against her wishes�.