Irom Sharmila warned against joining politics, marrying non-local person

GUWAHATI: Radical organisation, the Alliance for Socialist Unity, Kangleipak ( ASUK) has asked Irom Sharmila to re-think her decision to join electoral politics and marry a non-local man.

A statement jointly signed by ASUK chairman N Oken and vice chairman Ksh Laba Meitei said that some former revolutionary leaders were assassinated as they turned against the revolutionary movement soon after they got elected as people's representatives.

Irom Sharmila, who has fasted for nearly 16 years demanding repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act plans to end her fast on August 9 and contest the 2017 Manipur assembly polls. She has expressed her desire to enter into wedlock.

ASUK appealed to Sharmila not to degrade her status by joining electoral politics. The organisation said her decision to marry a non-local man cannot be called correct.

Sharmila is known to have a boyfriend, Desmond Coutinho, a UK national born in Goa. He has in the past been in trouble with Sharmila's supporters.

Meanwhile, an improvised explosive device blast took place in front of the State Museum gate near Governor Bungalow in Imphal. In the blast one CRPF jawan, who was on patrolling duty, suffered minor splinter injury.