Irom Sharmila re-arrested, remanded till Sep 5
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 22 2014 : Irom Chanu Sharmila who was released from judicial custody on August 20 by an order issued by the Sessions Court, Imphal East has been re-arrested by police today.

Meanwhile the Sharma Kanba Lup has denounced the act of re-arresting Sharmila by police as well as the manner in which the hunger striker was re-arrested.

After perusing a charge sheet filed by police which accused Sharmila of attempting to commit suicide, the CJM Imphal East passed a ruling on June 4 this year proclaiming that Sharmila was guilty under Section 309 IPC.

Challenging the CJM Imphal East order, Sharmila filed a petition at the Sessions Court, Imphal East.

After hearing both parties, Sessions Court Imphal East Judge A Guneshwor Sharma passed a verdict overruling the CJM Imphal East ruling.

The Sessions Court noted that Sharmila was not guilty as there was no evidence of attempting to commit suicide by the anti-AFSPA crusader.

Sharmila being pulled away by police

Accordingly Sharmila was released and she continued fasting at the protest site of the Sharmila Kanba Lup.

Sharmila categorically stated that she had no intention to commit suicide but was protesting against Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

She also made it clear that she would not eat or drink but continue fasting until AFSPA is repealed.

Sharmila was fasting for almost 40 hours without nose feeding when she was re-arrested by police from the protest site of Sharmila Kanba Lup at around 10 am today without giving any reason or arrest memo.

Denouncing the act of re-arresting Sharmila without giving any reason, Human Rights Alert executive director said that the Government was detaining Sharmila arbitrarily.

Later in the afternoon when some media persons asked Imphal East SP Angam in front of JNIMS security ward if Sharmila was re-arrested, and if yes for what reasons, the SP did not give any reply.

After she was pulled up from the protest site, Sharmila was produced before the Court of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Imphal East and the Court remanded her to judicial custody till September 5 .

She would be produced before the same Court on September 5 .

Alleging that Sharmila was re-arrested by police using brute force with her clothes thrown into disarray, the Sharmila Kanba Lup has strongly condemned the police action.

Sharmila Kanba Lup co-convenor S Momon Leima remarked that police showed sheer arrogance when they came to arrest Sharmila without any ambulance even though Sharmila has been fasting for the last 14 years.

The way how Sharmila was shoved into the police vehicle was quite shocking, Momon Leima said.

She went on to question how long the Government would continue with periodic phenomenon of releasing and re-arresting Sharmila on the false charge of attempting to commit suicide.

Quoting Home Minister Gaikhangam's statement that saving Sharmila is the State Government's top priority, Momon Leima asked whether the Government has done anything to repeal AFSPA or save Sharmila.

She asked "How could the Government save Sharmila without repealing AFSPA?" .

Re-arresting Sharmila forcibly and dumping her at JNIMS security ward cannot be any attempt to save Sharmila.

Rather it was violation of all the fundamental rights of Sharmila.

By doing so, the Government is mummifying a living woman, Momon Leima alleged.

AMKIL president Sakhi decried the offensive and disrespectful words allegedly used by Imphal East SP Angam.

Angam allegedly said masha sagal laklaga chinglaku (rough translation drag her hard by the hand) when they came to re-arrest Sharmila today.

The SP should have showed at least some respect to Sharmila.

After all, Sharmila is now an international figure who has dedicated her life for the cause of common men's rights, Sakhi said.