Imphal, Nov 5: The ‘Iron Lady of Manipur' Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on a hunger strike since 2000 demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), completed 12 years of fast today.
Sharmila, a civil rights activist, began her hunger strike after the death of ten people in an alleged encounter with the Assam Rifles at Malom in Imphal valley on November 2, 2000.
She has been demanding repeal of AFSPA which the human rights activists hold as a draconian law. Currently she is in judicial custody where she is forcibly fed through her nose.
Several candlelight demonstrations were organised by civil rights activists and members of social organisations today thoughout Manipur to express their solidarity with Sharmila.
