Irom released, family fears for her health

Manipur’s human rights activist Irom Sharmila, who has been on a decade-long fast demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), was released from judicial custody following a court order on Wednesday evening.

Manipur’s human rights activist Irom Sharmila, who has been on a decade-long fast demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), was released from judicial custody following a court order on Wednesday evening.

On Tuesday, Sessions Judge A Guneshwar Sharma passed an order to release Sharmila saying the prosecution has failed to provide sufficient proof to prove the charge of attempt to suicide.

Irom’s family, however, is apprehensive that she might have to go back to hospital as she cannot survive fasting without being force-fed. “Her health is good now but how long can she last without being force-fed through nose? Her health will deteriorate in the next few days and then she will again be taken back to the same hospital,” Sharmila’s brother, Irom Singhajit, told PTI.

Soon after her release from the security ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Science (JNIMS) hospital Porompat in Imphal, she told reporters, “I feel happy for recognition of my political movement. I’ll not change my stand till my goal is achieved.”