nil
Won't allow force feeding: Irom Sharmila
Imphal, Aug 21 (IBNS) Manipuri human rights activist Irom Sharmila, who walked free on Wednesday after a court order said restrictions on her should be removed and fasting is not attempting to commit suicide, has now said that she will not allow any attempt to force-feed her.
Immediately after her freedom, she continued with her fast.
"I will not take any force feed this time. I will not allow any medical set up. I don't feel hungry. What I feel is an emptiness," Sharmila told CNN-IBN channel.
"I need people's mass support," she said walking free on Wednesday and adding that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) imposed in Manipur is a "draconian law" which must be withdrawn.
A tricky situation has emerged after her release since the court said fasting is not attempting to suicide- she was being forced fed by authorities- but at the same time said her well being should be looked after by the government even as Sharmila went on to fast again.
A Manipur court earlier said that social activist Irom Sharmila, who since 2000 has been on an indefinite hunger strike demanding revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and being force fed with a pipe by the authorities, should be released.
The court on Tuesday last nullified the charges by police of attempted suicide by the activist.
The 42-year-old activist known as the 'Iron Lady of Manipur' earlier had wanted to meet the Prime Minister to repeal the Act that had been called "draconian" by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh though a reform has long been dilly-dallied.
Sharmila, who was being fed through her nose at JNIMS Hospital in Imphal, launched her fast unto death in 2000 after 10 civilians were killed by Assam Rifles personnel at Malom area near Imphal airport.
Top Headlines
-
News
Bangladesh MP warns of refugee crisis if BJP wins West Bengal polls
May 01, 2026
-
News
Rain, protests, and slogans: TMC-BJP faceoff erupts outside Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium strong room
April 30, 2026
-
News
Bengal polls: Mamata rejects exit poll projections, claims decisive TMC return to power
April 30, 2026
-
News
Operation Sindoor proved terror epicentres are not immune: Rajnath Singh at SCO meet
April 28, 2026
-
News
India, New Zealand seal historic FTA; Piyush Goyal calls it a defining milestone
April 27, 2026
-
News
Engine fire forces SWISS flight to abort in Delhi, 6 injured
April 26, 2026
-
News
Vee Technologies engineering division delivers 3,000th fire truck design for the US
April 24, 2026
-
News
'CM can't put democracy in peril by interfering with probe': SC slams Mamata Banerjee in I-PAC raid case
April 22, 2026
-
News
'India will never bow to any form of terror': PM Modi on Pahalgam terror attack anniversary
April 22, 2026
-
News
'Lots of bombs if talks fail': Trumps warning as Iran ceasefire nears end
April 20, 2026
