Sharmila: Back home

Imphal, March 7: A heavily guarded ward of Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital threw its doors open for the first time in the past year to let in visitors and let out the most famous face of human rights activism in Manipur.

An Imphal court released rights crusader Irom Sharmila Chanu from judicial custody today, on the eve on International Women’s Day.

Sharmila, who been on a hungerstrike for the past seven years to press for the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Manipur, was taken into custody for attempting to kill herself.

She had taken her struggle to the national capital in 2006 but was sent back to Manipur by Delhi police in March last year.

The Manipur police took her into custody within days of her return to the state.

She completed her remand today, but just when everyone was expecting the court to send her to judicial custody, the additional chief judicial magistrate of Imphal, R.K. Memcha, released Sharmila hours after she was produced before the court.

Wrapped in a silk shawl over a checked khadi shirt, the fragile figure did not betray the slightest relief at the court’s decision.

“I know the police people are waiting for my re-arrest after I walk out of this hospital. But my stand has not changed. I will continue my struggle,” Sharmila said from her hospital bed, while waiting for the final release order.

Sharmila finally walked out of the hospital at 5.20pm, supported by two relatives. She was about to walk to the office of meira paibis (women activists) at her village, Kongpal Kongkham Leikai in Imphal East, but was persuaded to go in a jeep.

On reaching the meira paibi office, she resumed her hungerstrike. A police car arrived and remained parked nearby.

Even though the court announced its decision this morning, Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, located at Porompat near Sharmila’s house in Imphal East, waited till the release order came in the afternoon.

Though freed for the time being, the police are likely to take her into custody considering that she will continue her hungerstrike.

Yesterday, a frustrated Sharmila had pleaded with the government to kill her or let her die in peace if it did not intend to repeal the army act.

Today, family members, rights activists and meira paibis thronged Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital for a word with the “Iron Lady” of Manipur.

The ward where Sharmila has been staying for the past year did not allow visitors until they had permission from Sajiwa Jail.

“My sister began her fast with blessings from our mother. The entire family is behind her. We will not object if she wishes to continue her fast,” Sharmila’s elder brother Singhajit Singh said.

The rights activists told Sharmila that the Coastal Women’s Forum in Kerala is holding a programme tomorrow to show solidarity with her struggle against the army act.

“We are behind you. You should not feel alone in this struggle for peace,” said an elderly meira paibi leader.

“Is it right on the part of the government to keep me in this condition for more than seven years?” she asked.