Irom Sharmila continuing her indefinite fast outside jail

IMPHAL: Manipur rights activist Irom Sharmila, who was released from prison yesterday after a local court rejected charges of attempt to suicide against her, continued with her indefinite fast of 14 years at the market complex here demanding repeal of AFSPA.

She was released at 7.30 PM yesterday by Imphal east district chief judicial magistrate, who dropped all charges against her, including attempt to commit suicide under IPC Section 309.

Immediately afterwards Sharmila accompanied by representatives of various women organisations went to Imphal market complex and began her fast.

She sat fasting at the market complex through the night.

She is being attended by a team of doctors from the government hospital, official sources said.

Police has asked her to go to the government hospital at Porompat but she has refused, the sources said.

Sharmila began her fast in November 2002 after Assam Rifles personnel killed 10 innocent people in Imphal airport in a fake encounter. Central forces, including Assam Rifles, are deployed in Manipur under Armed Forces Special Powers Act to counter insurgents.

She had been arrested, released and then re-arrested from time to time on the charge of attempting to commit suicide. The maximum punishment under Section 309 of the IPC is a one-year jail term.