‘Iron Lady’ Irom Sharmila To Break 16-Year Fast

Leading human rights activist Irom Chanu Sharmila, popularly known as Manipur's 'Iron Lady', will reportedly end her 16-year long fast on August 9 and contest upcoming polls in this north-eastern state.

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Sharmila went on hunger strike in 2000 to protest against the law that gives security forces powers to search, enter property and shoot on sight. Since her hunger strike began, Irom Sharmila was force-fed by doctors through a tube going into her nose to keep her alive, under court orders.

Sharmila began her fast in November, 2000 after 10 people were killed in a shooting at a bus stop near her home in Manipur. Human rights groups say the AFSPA is a draconian law which the military arbitrarily uses to violate civilians' rights.