NHRC pulls up Manipur for isolation of Irom Sharmila

GUWAHATI: The National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC) has asked the Manipur government to remove restrictions imposed on Irom Sharmila, who is fasting for the last 12 years demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act ( AFSPA), 1958.

Taking suo motu cognisance, the NHRC has recommended that the government should immediately remove the restrictions as they are breaching India’s obligations under the international human rights standards and principles, and making gross violation of human rights.

In its notice to the Manipur chief secretary, the commission has said that Sharmila must be permitted to receive visitors under the regime that governs all persons in judicial custody. It has asked the chief secretary to file a report by December 6 on the steps taken in response to its recommendation.

Sharmila is being forced-fed through her nose by the Congress regime in the state. Two members of the commission had met her on the October 23 in Imphal. “If the government of Manipur could deny permission to its special rapporteur , a retired director-general of police and to special rapporteurs of the UN, to visit Sharmila, it is unlikely that it gives others access to her,” NHRC said in a statement .

“It would appear that while keeping her alive, since her death would create problems for the state government, it is trying to break her spirit through this enforced isolation for which there is no judicial mandate, though she is in judicial custody.” The NHRC said she was found frail but alert and did not complain of any physical ill-treatment.

However, she repeatedly said that she was rarely allowed visitors, whereas all others in the custody of the state government routinely receive visits from family and friends.