Human rights activist Irom Sharmila Chanu who was on an indefinite strike since 2000 fighting to end the anti-terror act AFSPA has on Tuesday announced to call off her fast on August 9
Human rights activist Irom Sharmila Chanu who was on an indefinite strike since 2000 fighting to end the anti-terror act AFSPA has on Tuesday announced to call off her fast on August 9.
Irom Sharmila. Pic/PTI
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Making the announcement in the court of the chief judicial magistrate, Imphal west, she further said that she will marry and contest the Manipur assembly elections next year as an independent candidate.
The 42-year-old activist has been force-fed through a nasal tube for years.
Sharmila has been on an indefinite hunger strike since Nov 4, 2000, demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, (AFSPA) after killing of 10 civilians allegedly by the paramilitary Assam Rifles at Malom near Imphal Nov 2, 2000.
She was also charged with attempting to commit suicide. Under this charge, she can be kept in custody for a year at a stretch.
The AFSPA, against which Sharmila has been fighting, provides unlimited powers to the security forces to shoot at sight, arrest anybody without a warrant or carry out searches without hindrances. It also insulates the security forces from legal processes for any action undertaken under the act.
The AFSPA, described by critics as 'draconian law', also allows army and paramilitary soldiers operating in 'disturbed areas', declared by the home ministry under the AFSPA -- to take any action suitable for them while dealing with separatists or insurgents.
The AFSPA is in force in whole or in parts of Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Nagaland besides Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh and in Jammu and Kashmir.
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