Irom Sharmila Chanu, on hunger strike for over 10 years demanding withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 from Manipur, has been released from judicial custody, official sources said today.
Known as Manipur’s ‘Iron Lady’, Ms. Sharmila was kept at the J N Hospital, converted into jail for her, where she was being fed through nose till a local court facilitated her release this Wednesday.
She has been arrested, released and rearrested from time to time on the charges of trying to kill herself by fasting unto death.
Official sources said she was likely to be rearrested very soon.
Ms. Sharmila began her hunger strike after 10 civilians were killed in an alleged encounter by Assam Rifles personnel near Imphal airport in November 2000.
Various social organisations and national leaders of different political parties have supported Ms. Sharmila who received various international and national awards for her demand for withdrawal of the Act.
