Campaigners denied permit to meet Irom Sharmila: 'Denial testifies human rights abuse'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 29 2011: Activists of National Alliance for People's Movement, who arrived here on October 27 to extend solidarity to Irom Chanu Sharmila have been denied permission to meet the anti-AFSPA campaigner.

Human rights activists from about 15 States had arrived as a part of the Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, which was flagged off from Srinagar earlier this month.

Joined by rights activists from Manipur, the rallyists after briefly staging a sit-in-protest proceeded to JN Hospital complex to meet Sharmila yesterday but the police personnel on duty at the Security Ward of the Hospital stopped them from meeting Sharmila as they had no permission from the Government.

As the rallyists insisted on meeting Sharmila and began to squat/assemble near the security ward of the hospital police drove them up to the nearby protest shed of Sharmila Kanba Lup.

However, the rallyists volunteered that they be arrested and taken to the police station and attempted to head to the Hospital again resulting in a mild scuffle and slogan shouting.

President of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Ila Pathak decrying the police action and denying them permission to meet Sharmila said the denial only testifies abuse of human rights by the Government.

Members of the NAPM addressing the media

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