Activist Irom Sharmila has been fasting for 14 years demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur.
A district court in Imphal is expected to pronounce its order on whether human rights activist Irom Sharmila can be charged with attempt to suicide. A year ago, another court in Imphal had ruled that simliar charges against her in an earlier case would not apply.
Sharmila has been in judicial custody since November 2000, when she started an indefinite fast asking for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur. In August last year, she had been released after the Imphal court ruled that her fast could not be construed as an attempt to commit suicide.
On her release, Sharmila continued her fast. Just days later, the Manipur Police rearrested her and slapped a fresh charge of attempt to suicide against the activist. When questioned, the cops said the circumstances after her release had changed and that the new case against her was being filed with a fresh perspective.
Activists working with Sharmila say they are hoping that the stand taken by the Centre in 2014 may result in freedom of a more permanent nature for Manipur's Iron Lady this time around. The Centre expressed its intention to delete Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code, which imposes a a one-year jail term and a fine on survivors of suicide attempts.