Free Sharmila continues fast

Khelen Thokchom, TT, Imphal, Jan. 22: Manipur's human rights crusader Irom Sharmila was freed from jail this evening following an order by an Imphal court which dismissed the charges levelled against her by police as baseless and without foundation, putting the Okram Ibobi Singh government in a predicament.

In its chargesheet, the police had accused Sharmila of attempting to commit suicide (Section 309 of the IPC) and obstructing arrest (Section 353 of the IPC).

In his order, judicial magistrate, first class, Imphal East, Wisdom Kamodang, said the charges of attempt to commit suicide and obstruction to her arrest were baseless and there was no evidence to prove the charges.

This is the second time that the courts have ordered Sharmila's release after dismissing the charge of attempt to commit suicide levelled against her.

After coming out of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Science's security ward (an extension of jail) here today, Sharmila continued her fast. She took an autorickshaw straight to Elephant State Zoo in the city, where she plans to continue her fast. She was accompanied by her supporters.

Sharmila was rearrested on August 22 last year after she continued her fast following her release from jail in the wake of another court order that too dismissed the charge of attempt to commit suicide.

The police filed a fresh chargesheet in November last year, which was again dismissed by the judiciary today.

"I will continue the fast until the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is repealed. I do not want to die. I want to live like any other normal person," Sharmila said after coming out of the court this evening.

Her lawyer Khaidem Mani Singh said if the Centre and state governments want to save Sharmila's life the act should be repealed. She has not changed her stand, he added.

"I can't say what the next step of the government will be but I want to reiterate that I will not end the hunger strike till the demand is met," Sharmila said.

The iron lady of Manipur, as Sharmila is known, began her hunger strike in November 2000 to press for repeal of the act after Assam Rifles personnel killed 10 civilians at Malom near Imphal airport while retaliating to a militant attack.

She has been kept at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences here and has been surviving on nasal feeding. She is released every year on completion of her yearlong jail term, only to be rearrested when she continues her fast.

Legal experts said the government would find itself in a very tricky situation. It can no longer use Section 309 of the IPC as two courts have dismissed the charges made against her under this section.

"On the other hand, the government needs to find a means to keep her alive. If she dies because of her hunger strike, serious law and order situation will erupt," a legal expert said.

The Amnesty India International said in a release: "It is an outrage that Irom Sharmila has been in prison for over 14 years for a peaceful protest. The judgement must end the farcical cycle of arrest and re-arrest...authorities must not detain Irom Sharmila again," the release said.

The police are expected to re-arrest her on some other ground tomorrow. A senior police officer said they would act according to the directives of the government.