Irom Sharmila made to spend night at thana by angry women

A day after she broke her 16-year-long fast for Manipur, human rights activist Irom Chanu Sharmila has been facing protest in her home state from local women organisations that accused her of letting them down by breaking her fast.

Security sources keeping a close watch on Ms Sharmila’s security said that soon after her release from judicial custody on Tuesday, Ms Sharmila was taken to the residence of the former health director, Dr Th Suresh of Keishamthong Laisom Leirak, by the Imphal police.

However, some women blocked the road to prevent her from reaching Dr Suresh’s house in Keishamthong area of Imphal.

The police then took her to Shamu Makhong, a locality in Imphal. There too, some angry women prevented her from staying.

The police then decided to provide her shelter in a city police station to ensure her safety. Later in the night, security sources said that she was taken to JNIMS hospital after she offered prayers at Iskcon temple.

Ms Sharmila has already announced that she would neither return home nor meet her mother as she is yet achieve her goal of getting AFSPA repealed.

Sharmila Kanba Lup volunteers and women belonging to other organisations also shouted slogan against Ms Sharmila when she left the court complex.

Manipur-based radical social organisation had warned Ms Sharmila against contesting elections and marrying an “outsider.”

Secessionist group Alliance for Socialist Unity, Kangleipak warned that “some former revolutionary leaders were assassinated” after deviating from the cause

and getting elected as people’s representatives. The ASUK backs the idea of a sovereign Manipur.

Two separatist militant outfits — Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup and Kangleipak Communist Party — had also asked Ms Sharmila to continue her fast.