Irom Sharmila freed, but resumes fast
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 12 2013: Even as a week-long nation-wide 'Save Sharmila Campaign' is currently underway the 'annual ritual' of releasing Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been fasting for more than 12 years now demanding repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from Manipur, on completion of one year in judicial custody was enacted here today.

The State Government had time and again sent Sharmila to judicial custody on alleged charge of attempting to commit suicide under IPC 309 .

But she was rearrested again and kept in the judicial custody for refusing to end her fast.

Predictably, after being freed at around 4 pm today, Sharmila went straight to continue with her fast at the office of Sharmila Kanba Lup at Porompat.

On completion of her one year term in judicial custody, Sharmila was produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East District, Alek Muivah located at Porompat at around noon today.

Irom Sharmila freed, but resumes fast

After the court freed her, Sharmila was again brought to the Security Ward of JNIMS where she had been lodged with nose-feeding as the police was to prepare proper document for her release.

Sharmila was formally released from the Security ward at around 4 pm.

Hundreds of her supporters, including members of Sharmila Kanba Lup (SAKAL), who were waiting for Sharmila outside the hospital led her to the SAKAL office near the hospital where she resumed her fast.

National Alliance for People's Movement coordinator, Faisal Khan from Delhi and members of the organization Arvind from Uttar Pradesh and Deepak Joshi from Rajasthan were also among the crowd of supporters.

Talking to mediapersons, Sharmila described herself a follower of Gandhi and a mere pursuer of non-violent movement.

Stating that she has no biasness against either the security forces or the underground members, Sharmila said that only wants peace and tranquility in Manipur.

Noting that police would be after her in the next two-three days to be rearrested, Sharmila expressed resentment against the Manipur Government for arresting her over and over again.

Accusing Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh of trying to appease her by lifting AFSPA from seven assembly segments of Imphal, she further alleged that all the politicians in the state have ignored the idea of bringing development in the land.

Most of the ethnic communities in Manipur have demanded separate homelands today because the Government fails to take up development projects in the hills.