Irom Sharmila re-arrested

Police entered her make-shift shelter and forcibly picked her up, on charges of attempt to commit suicide.

Updated - September 23, 2017 12:53 pm IST - Imphal

Irom Sharmila on Wednesday after her release.

Irom Sharmila on Wednesday after her release.

Social activist Irom Sharmila was rearrested on Friday morning by about 30 women constables from the shed of the Save Sharmila Organisation where she has been undergoing fast along with other women activists.

"She has been rearrested on charges of attempt to commit suicide," Manipur ADG Santosh Macherla said.

After her release on Wednesday from a make-shift prison in Imphal, Ms. Sharmila supported by hundreds of womenfolk and social organisations had walked free from the make-shift prison at J N Government Hospital where a room has been converted into a jail for her. Soon afterwards she had begun her fast at a place near the hospital.

>A democracy of armed soldiersIrom Sharmila and her inner battle against human rights abuse in Manipur.

“I will continue to fast till my demand (withdrawal of AFSPA) is met. The order of the sessions court that I am not attempting to commit suicide (by launching fast to remove the controversial Act) is welcome,” she had said.

Ms. Sharmila has been on fast for the past 14 years demanding withdrawal of the act and was recently absolved of the charge of trying to commit suicide.

>Irom Sharmila - A simple girl forced into sainthoodIt has been nearly 14 years and India still hasn’t listened to Irom Sharmila. She has held on to her belief steadfastly; she has remained unshaken.

A former journalist and social activist, Ms. Sharmila had launched her fast unto death on November 2000 after Assam Rifles killed 10 persons at Malom area here in an alleged encounter with insurgents.

She has been in jail for the past many years and was released from time to time and rearrested again and again under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code for attempting to commit suicide.

Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam said the government was all prepared to protect and look after the health of the social activist.

Even after her release from detention, Ms. Sharmila had decided to keep her vow of neither entering her house nor meeting her mother till the government repeals AFSPA

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.