So, what next? Irom Sharmila cannot be detained or jailed anymore by the Manipur government. She is free to carry out her agitation outside the confinement of the state government of Manipur now.
On the International Human Rights Day the government of India dropped ‘attempted suicide’ from a list of crimes punishable by prison, ‘potentially paving the way for the release of human rights activist Irom Sharmila, who has been on hunger strike for the past 14 years.’‘The government informed Parliament of its decision in a written reply from the home ministry on Wednesday, saying it was acting on a recommendation of the Law Commission.The government panel for legal reform had deemed the suicide law “anachronistic” and “undesirable” in a 2008 report.’
Irom Sharmila has been demanding repeal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 since November 4, 2000. She is charged with attempting to commit suicide under IPC 309. Since Sharmila’s case was a peculiar one the state government of Manipur did not confine her in jail. She has been put at the Security Ward of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal with some female police personnel guarding her. Nurses from the hospital are tending her round the clock. Visitors including her family members are restricted from seeing her. A special permission from the state home department is required to meet her.
In connection with the case Sharmila appears before a Chief Judicial Magistrate (court) in Imphal East. Activist Irom Sharmila also goes to New Delhi whenever she is asked to appear before the Metropolitan Magistrate, Patiala House court, New Delhi. This is in connection with a separate case of attempting to commit suicide filed by Delhi police when she carried out a protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi few years ago.
Now, since the government will have no other tools to detain her anymore Sharmila can come out in the street and continue her agitation. In that event the nose feeding and other medical attentions she has been given will no longer be possible. When such situation arises things are obvious--it will be a matter of few days that Manipur will erupt in flame. In health wise she is already in a very feeble condition.
