Sharmila refuses nose feeding, mobile drive kicks off
Source: The Sangai Express

Delhi/Imphal, January 23: Even as the authority of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Delhi submitted a medical report in connection with the health of Irom Chanu Sharmila to Delhi High Court today in response to an earlier Court ruling, Sharmila has refused further nose feeding from today morning.

The gutsy lady decided to stop nose feeding after the Court ruled that the medical report would not be made public and only Sharmila and her doctor would be allowed to go through it.

Irom Chanu Sharmila and women raising slogans to kick start the one month long mobile campaign

On the other hand, following a petition filed by Irom Singhajit, the elder brother of Sharmila, the Court ruled that based on the submission of the medical report, Sharmila would not be allowed to attend any meeting or address any gathering.

To another petition filed by Singhajit that Sharmila is being illegally detained by Delhi Police, the police replied that Sharmila is not in their custody, though a case has been registered against her.

Following the submission of Delhi Police, the case was disposed today.

A clearly miffed, Singhajit however said that he would move the Supreme Court, if necessary.

Meanwhile a month-long mobile campaign in support of Irom Chanu Sharmila who has been on fast unto death agitation for more than six years now demanding repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 has begun from today.

Aptly titled 'AFSPA Temshingnabi Sharmila Kanba Miyamgee Khongjang (Mass movement to save AFSPA defying lady Sharmila)', the campaign is being launched under the aegis of AFSPA Temshingnabi Chanu Sharmila Khongjang Sougat Nupi Lup, a women's body fighting for the cause of Sharmila.

Street corner meetings at various places, pamphlet distribution, slogan shouting against the prolonged imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 in Manipur and mass mobilisation for removal of the draconian Act would be the main highlights of the campaign which would be taken to different parts of the State and will continue for one month.

Kicking off from Tera Keithel, the campaign was also launched at Naoremthong, Lamphel PDA complex, Khuman Lampak bus terminus, Lamlong Bazar and Singjamei area on the first day today.

The pamphlet being distributed among the people in connection with the campaign denounced the failure of the Government of India to make public the report of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee which had recommended repealing of Act which Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh himself had described as inhuman.

It also decried India Government for its alleged indifferent attitude to the non-violence agitation being launched by Sharmila despite being a signatory to the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The pamphlet also questioned why the Act could not be lifted from whole of Manipur when it has already been lifted from Imphal Municipality areas.

Sharmila began her struggle to demand repealing of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur after the security forces killed 10 innocent persons at Malom in 2000.After her release from the jail on October 3 last year, Sharmila has shifted her protest venue from Imphal to New Delhi.