New Delhi, November 29: The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Centre and Delhi Police on a petition alleging illegal detention of Irom Chanu Sharmila, who was on a hunger strike here demanding scrapping of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

A Division Bench comprising Justices Madan Lokur and RS Sodhi asked the Centre and Delhi Police to file their replies by December 7 on the petition filed by her brother Irom Shingjit Singh alleging that she was being illegally detained.

Sharmila, who came to Delhi with her protest after her six-year-long hunger strike in Manipur, was arrested on October 6 two days after she began her protest.

She was shifted to the AIIMS by the police.

Singh also alleged that police had violated guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court while arresting his sister.

"During her stay in AIIMS, though she was on hunger strike, she was fed forcibly against her wish," he added.

Sharmila has alleged that security forces were responsible for a number of "extra-judicial executions, torture, massacre and rape" that had taken place in Manipur and they got scot-free using the provisions of AFSPA.

Our Staff Reporter adds : Ever since Sharmila shifted base to Delhi, a number of civil society organisations from across the country had shown solidarity to her cause.

Political parties too have jumped onto the anti-AFSPA bandwagon, with the MPP promising that it would repeal the Act if it comes to power.

The Nationalist Congress Party, which is a constituent unit of the UPA Government at New Delhi, also extended its support to Sharmila and staged a dharna at Delhi recently.

The dharna was attended by a number of NCP leaders, including PA Sangma and State unit president Radhabinod Koijam.

Addressing the gathering, PA Sangma had assured that he would take up the issue of AFSPA on the floor of Parliament, which is currently on its winter session.

Giving a boost to Sharmila's struggle against the repressive Act, Nobel Peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi of Iran visited her at AIIMS on November 26 and assured that she would highlight the matter to the United Nations.

Ebadi had informed media persons that she fully backs the endeavour of Sharmila.

The Nobel laureate was blunt and to the point when she said, "I will report to the UN High Commission on how this country is violating human rights.

A woman who has been arrested by the police two months back is not being produced in the Court.

I will also talk to the Indian Government about this." Calling on the people to launch a protest against the Government, Ebadi had said, "If a law allows the army to do whatever they want, we cannot sit in silence.

I appeal to Indian Government to immediately revoke AFSPA and release Sharmila on humanitarian grounds." The Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee had also recommended the repeal of the said Act.

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