Imphal: A day after she broke her 16-year fast against a law that gives sweeping powers to the military, Irom Sharmila is suddenly finding herself virtually friendless in Manipur. From her family to close friends and even neighbours, no one wants to even shake hands with a feisty woman who went without food and water these long years, earning the sobriquet “Iron Lady”.

Manipuri human rights activists shout slogans against Irom Sharmila’s decision to break her fast in Imphal. pic/PTI