Imphal, August 12: Following the lifting of the Disturbed Area Act from seven Assembly Constituencies under the Imphal Municipal area, Chief Minister O Ibobi today visited Sharmila at JN Hospital and appealed to her to end her fast unto death strike.

Mention may be made here that Irom Sharmila had been on a fast unto death for the last four years demanding revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the State.

Lauding the will and determination of Sharmila who has been fighting a lone battle for the last four years against the imposition of AFSPA in the State, Chief Minister O Ibobi urged Sharmila to break her fast as her demands have been partially fulfilled with the lifting of Disturbed Area Act from some areas under the Imphal Municipal Council.

Giving a serious thought to the appeal made by the Chief Minister, a weak looking Sharmila evaded a direct reply but said that she would wait till the AFSPA is withdrawn from the whole State.

On insurgency problems confronting the State Sharmila said the Govt should initiate dialogues with the insurgent groups and bring them to the negotiating table so that a meaningful solution can be worked.

She also appealed to the Chief Minister to be more sensitve to the insurgency problems as the insurgents are all sons and daughters of the soil.

Joining in the conversation with Sharmila, FCS Minister Ph Parijat while informing Sharmila that the Disturbed Area Act have been removed from Wang-khei, Yaiskul, Singjamei, Thangmeiband, Keishamthong, Sagolband and Uripok on trial basis, appealed to Sharmila to break her fast.

Parijat also informed Sharmila that the Act would be lifted gradually from other parts of the State if the trial made by the Govt proves successful.

Expressing her satisfaction at the removal of disturb Area status from some areas under the Imphal Municipal Council area, Sharmila said that her demands have been partially fulfilled and was beginning to some light to her long cherished goal.

She however declined to say anything on whether she would be break her fast following the positive response of the State Govt.Questioning the rationale behind the partial removal of disturb area status from the State, she said that she would rather wait for the complete removal of the dreaded Act since lifting it partially from some parts of the State does not make any sense as security forces are still allowed to kill innocent civilians in some parts of the States.

Recalling the brutal killing of Jamkholet Khongsai by Assam Rifles personnel, Sharmila said that such killings of innocent civilians will continue as long as AFSPA was imposed in the hill dist and therefore urged the Chief Minister to revoke the Act from the whole State.

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