Imphal, March 09 2009: Hunger striker Irom Chanu Sharmila, the �Iron Lady of Manipur' was on Monday re-arrested by the Imphal East police under IPC 309 on charges of suicide attempt for resuming her fast unto-death after barely 48 hours of being released from police custody on Saturday.

An FIR 78/3/09 filed against her, Sharmila is being once again kept under judicial custody remand for one year at the Jawahar Lal Nehru (JN) hospital security ward.

The 'Iron Lady of Manipur' has been on fast unto-death since November 2, 2000 in the call for repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, AFSPA, 1958.Following her agitation, she was arrested by the state government under IPC 309 and kept under police custody.

Over the last few years, she was released on occasions under the obligation that she would not resume her fast.

However, with Sharmila determined to repeal the draconian law from the state, she resumed her fasts on all occasions thus leading to her arrest time and again.

On Saturday, March 7, she was released by the chief judicial magistrate, first class of Imphal East.

However, following her resumption of her fast at the PDA complex in Porompat of Imphal East where Sharmila Kanba Lup, a movement to save here is organising a relay hunger strike, she was Monday morning arrested by the Imphal East police and an FIR filed against her.

Following her arrest, she was to be produced before the chief judicial magistrate, first class of Imphal East.

But due to some circumstances best known to the police she was produced at Lamphel additional chief magistrate.

And with the Iron Lady refusing to any bails for her was remanded under police custody.

Though arrested, the police had a hard time as the Sharmila Kanba Lup, the movement formed to save her, objected to Sharmila being arrested again.

"Sharmila will not move from here (the PDA complex)," agitated the womenfolk.

The Lup while condemning the Ibobi Singh led government questioned what the government has done against the NSCN-IM for murdering Dr Kishan and his two staffs.

The Lup also lamented that law and order situation of the state was degrading and further questioned where democracy was in the state.

However, Sharmila was arrested after an agreement was arrived upon for a memorandum to be submitted to the governor of the state and other concerns.

The memo called upon the state government to "Save Sharmila", "Repeal the AFSPA, 1958" and "Restore the peace and harmony of the Manipuris".

The arrest, on the other hand, also made the happy gathering of Sharmila and her two nieces short-lived.

During the short meeting, Irom Jeny Francis, a class IV student asserted that she would substitute her aunty in the protest if there were no further developments.

"I want my aunty's appeal to be fulfilled so that we can all enjoy, live and eat together," Jeny added.

Baby Tanu, a class II student and niece of Sharmila stated that the sisters would visit their aunty at the JN hospital every Sunday or at times on holiday.

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