Irom Sharmila to end her 16-year fast today

After being on fast for the last 16 years demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Manipur’s “Iron Lady” Irom Chanu Sharmila is all set to end her fast Tuesday morning.

According to her brother Irom Singhajit, the 44-year-old iconic rights activist, who was forcibly fed through a nasal tube since 2000 to keep her alive at a prison-turned-hospital, will break her fast at a local court here.

“She will be produced before a judicial magistrate tomorrow and the court will release her from judicial custody after she breaks her fast as she had announced a fortnight ago,” he said.

Though a large number of her supporters and women activists under the forum of Sharmila Kunba Lup will be meeting her as she starts her new journey, Ms Sharmila’s 84-year-old mother Shakhi Devi will not be present.

“She will not go there to meet her. She is waiting for the moment of her victory which will come only when AFSPA is repealed,” Mr Singhajit, who will be present at the courtroom on Tuesday, said.

The family and her supporters, who have not been able to meet her since July 26 when she announced her decision to end her fast and enter politics to ensure that AFSPA is repealed through political means, have no idea where she is going to stay from now on.

“We don’t know where she will go after her release. If she wants to come home and stay with us, we are ready to welcome her. But it is her desire,” her brother said.

Local activist Kshetrimayum Onil, who has been associated with Ms Sharmila for a long time, said they tried many times but failed to meet her to discuss the future strategy on AFSPA.

“The government rules say that to meet her we have to apply at least one month before. We tried but failed to set up a meeting,” he said.

Her brother also said he is waiting to meet her tomorrow to discuss future strategies.