Manipur-based human rights defender Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been on an indefinite fast for over 15 years now, demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been released on Thursday.
The prominent human rights activist has, however, resumed her fast soon after her release on Thursday. A local court on Thursday ordered the release of Sharmila and she was released hours after the court verdict. She was released from the particular ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru hospital in Imphal, which was turned into a jail for her.
In August last year, Sharmila was released following an order of the Session Court, which had dismissed the charge against her. However, police arrested her soon after to “save” her life after the activist continued with her hunger strike. The re-arrest then was made under IPC Sections 309 (attempt to commit suicide) and 353 for obstructing police to discharge duty.
“She has been released and that she was moving around in Imphal now,” Sharmila’s lawyer Khaidem Mani told this correspondent over phone. Mani said that Sharmila was released as the prosecution failed to make any prima facie case against her under IPC Sections 309 and 353. “The court observed that there was no material on the charges against her and accordingly, ordered her release,” Mani said.
When asked if there any possibility of re-arresting her, the Advocate said that it is up to the Manipur Government.The Amnesty International had in 2013 demanded the Indian authorities to immediately release Irom Sharmila Chanu.
Popularly known as the ‘Iron lady of Manipur’, Sharmila has been on an indefinite fast since November 2000, protesting against the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in Manipur. She was arrested shortly after she began her hunger strike and charged with attempting to commit suicide — a criminal offence under the Indian law.
Sharmila has remained in judicial custody in Manipur over all these years and she was being held at the security ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru hospital in Imphal, where she is force-fed a diet of liquids through her nose.