Iconic activist Irom Sharmila on Tuesday announced she would end her 16 years long fast-unto-death protest against the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
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Manipur’s Iron Lady, Irom Sharmila, has made a decision to end her fast on 9 August and contest the Manipur polls independently. She added that she would contest upcoming state elections to resolve the issues.
Sources said a verdict in a case involving Sharmila in an Imphal court is expected to come on August 9 and she will be ending it on the same day.
Lately, Irom has let her displeasure known about how the people of Manipur were making her an unlikely icon and blaming her for a lot of political happenings.
The Act has often faced flak from human rights groups as it gave sweeping powers and immunity to the army in conflict-ridden areas. She has been forcibly nose-fed at a government hospital in Imphal all these years.
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In 2014, she pulled off the tube after being released on orders from a court, which said there was no evidence that she was trying to commit suicide by refusing food – the main criminal charge against her. She also declined an offer from Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party to become their candidate for the national election that year.
