Sharmila completes ninth year of fasting
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 01 2009: Hunger striker Irom Sharmila has completed nine years of fasting today.

The hunger striker popular called the 'Iron Lady' has been fasting demanding the repeal of Armed Forces' Special Powers Act (AFSPA) since November 2, the day when 10 civilians died in firing by security forces personnel in an encounter with militants at Malom area in Imphal West district in 2000 .

However, the news of Sharmila's fasting came to the knowledge of the public only on November 4 that year.

The memorial complex of Malom

Refusing to give up her agitation, the state authority put her under forced nose-feeding with liquid food after Sharmila had already been into several days of her fast-unto death agitation.

Irom Sharmila Chanu was awarded a Guangju Prize few years ago by a Korea-based human rights group.

On the charges of attempting to commit suicide, the state government arrested her and put her under the tight security ward at Jawaharlal Nehru hospital in Imphal.

She went to New Delhi and briefly continued her agitation there at Jantar Mantar.

She was 'arrested' and then put her at AIIMS hospital there.

After that episode she came back to Imphal and continues her fast-unto-death agitation.

Several human rights activists from outside the state have been visiting her at the JN Hospital till these days.

Union ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs) and other dignitaries have also been visiting her and pursuading her to give up her agitation.

However, true to her title, the Iron Lady, Irom Sharmila Chanu refuses to end her protest.

She is demanding that AFSPA be repealed from the whole of Manipur, if not from the whole of India.

A group of women had formed an organisation to endorse her agitation.

The group christened as Sharmila Kanba Lup or Save Sharmila Organisation has been carrying out relay hunger strike near JN Hospital and the movement has crossed over 300 days now.

Women groups from various localities have been staging sit-in-protest at the venue since the formation of the Sharmila Kanba Lup.