Sharmila Irom freed from jail, likely to arrest again

NI Wire

New Delhi

Sat, 08 Mar 2008: 

A pale figure, but with piercing, bright and lively eyes in which hope to meet her demand and love towards mankind could be easily viewed. Feeble from body as she has been on fast unto death since November 2000, but determined and tough by heart, the Manipur’s human rights crusader Irom Sharmila, who took her prisonment not as a punishment, but a bounden duty to mankind.

Demanding the repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA) as the cause of inflicting brutality to Manipuris by the Indian Army, she went on hunger strike on November 2, 2000 after security personnel killed 10 civilians near Imphal airport.

It was Thursday- the day when security personnel gunned down civilians- and she used to fast on the day since her childhood, which eventually become her destiny and she continued her fast, not for a day but forever.

After her returning from the bloody spot she went on fast and was arrested by the police three days later and sent into judicial custody after being charged with attempting to kill herself. Since then she has been forcefully feeding through nasal for more than seven years.

The crusador Sharmila Irom who has become the face of protests against the AFSPA was released on Friday’s evening and might be arrested again on Saturday afternoon, if she remains continue on fast.

This routine has been followed for years, as under the law a person accused of attempted suicide cannot be detained for more than a year.

“If the government think what I am doing is wrong and if the act is not going to be removed, then please allow me to die peacefully or let them kill me,” Sharmila said while talking to journalists from her bed in Imphal’s Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital on Thursday.

Journey to Delhi

The crusader shifted her agitation to Delhi in October 2006 to draw the attention of the central leadership and the international community to human rights issues in Manipur.

Delhi police sent her back to Imphal on March 3 next year, where she was immediately taken into judicial custody. Her judicial remand completed on Friday and she was likey to be back to custody after producing her in court.

Jeevan Reddy Commission

To review the army act, the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission has recommended its repeal. The Centre has not taken any step and is yet to act on the recommendations.

Armed Forces Special Power Act

AFSPA is a law that can come into force in any part of India declared as "disturbed".

The act allows anyone of any rank in the army or a paramilitary force under its operational command to shoot, arrest or search without warrant; and to kill on suspicion alone. Furthermore, there is little scope for judicial remedy.