After being on fast for nearly 16 years in protest against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Irom Sharmila will end her hunger strike on August 9, 2016.
On Tuesday, she will inform the court about her decision and the court is likely to release her from judicial custody. However, opinion is divided about her decision to end the strike and join electoral politics.
Ms. Sharmila’s brother Irom Singhajit said that even though the family was not consulted before she took the decision, his sister was welcome home if she wanted to stay with the family. Babloo Loitongbam, director of Human Rights Alert, Manipur, who has been in touch with Ms. Sharmila for a long time, said he had not been able to communicate with her over the past few weeks.
