Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, March 10, 2010:
Irom Chanu Sharmila who has been fasting unto death demanding repeal of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 has been re-arrested today by a police team led by the Imphal East SDPO from Porompat where relay hunger strike is being staged under the aegis of Sharmila Kanba Lup in solidarity to Sharmila's cause.
Sharmila was released from security ward of JN Hospital in the evening of March 8 as the term of conviction of one year completed on the same day.
After her release from JN Hospital security ward, Sharmila carried on her campaign at the venue of the relay hunger strike.
A police team led by SDPO Birbabu re-arrested Sharmila at about 5.30 pm today.
Even as members of the Lup who were present there tried to resist arrest of Sharmila, police women took hold of Sharmila and carried away.
The Sharmila Kanba Lup also attempted to submit a memorandum to the Governor this evening demanding repeal of AFSPA, protection of human rights and save the life of Sharmila.
But the women activists were not allowed entry past the Raj Bhavan gate.
Later, the same memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister and the Legislative Assembly Speaker.
Speaking to media persons after submitting the memorandum, the women activists said that the Sharmila Kanba Lup would be launching other form of agitation together with the public in pursuit of their demand to save the life of Sharmila.
Another memorandum signed by 17 human rights defenders belonging to the seven North-eastern States has also been submitted to the Chief Minister.
It also urged for repeal of the infamous AFSPA.
The human right defenders, showing solidarity to the cause of Sharmila, asserted that AFSPA is one act contradictory to democracy.
Observing that the Act robs the right to life of the people of North East region, the human right defenders pledged to carry on with their campaign until the Act is scrapped completely.