Imphal, November 06 2010: The five day "Festival of Hope, Justice and Peace" which marked 10 years completion of Sharmila's fast slated concluded today.

The concluding day was marked by a mass prayer for Shamila's victory.

Leaders of various religions took part in the mass prayer that was performed at the Nupilal complex where the concluding function was held.

Religious leaders led people different religions in offering prayers to the almighty for Sharmila's triumph.

Religious leaders belonging to Sanamahi Laining, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Muslims etc.

attended the prayer ceremony.

Members of the Extra-judicial Execution Victims' Family Association, Manipur also set free white doves in the sky for peace and tranquility in the state.

Newmai News Network adds, the festival of Hope, Justice and Peace started in commemoration of Sharmila's decade long struggle against injustices and human rights abuses committed by armed forces under the immunity provided by AFSPA 1958 came to a sober closure pregnant with profound insights.

The mass prayer was attended by every community in Manipur.

Kuki, Meitei and Naga, belonging to different faiths convened to pray to the almighty to bless Sharmila, lone crusader against AFSPA and a true humanist and a human being.

The 5-day long festival celebrating the spirit of Sharmila got underway with the 2nd and 3rd day used to discuss and discourse on the past, present and future of human rights in general and Sharmila's struggle against AFSPA 1958 in particular.

Academicians, rights crusaders, retired and serving bureaucrats, authors and film makers etc.

from different parts of the country pitched in to make the festival a unique and composite petition to register their protest against the powers that be and to save Sharmila from a "travesty of justice" .

On day 4, a massive rally was organized by Sharmila Kanba Lup (save Sharmila group) begining at Porompat, from where she had been taken and put under "house arrest" in the security ward of Jawahar Lal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS).

Despite coming to the festival with much zeal and expectations of meeting and interacting with Sharmila, the delegates of the crusade regretted that they now will have to go back without any substantive breakthroughs.

The delegates made known their disapproval of the Government of Manipur's decision to turn down the petition of seeking an audience with Sharmila.

However, many mooted the idea of taking the painstaking journey of Iron Lady Sharmila to every corner of the country beyond the hills and valley of Manipur.

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