Irom Sharmila Arrested Once More

Sharmila remanded in 15 days’ custody

Imphal, Mar 12 : Human rights crusader Irom Sharmila was re-arrested and remanded in judicial custody for 15 days today barely 24 hours after she was freed.

The court released Sharmila yesterday after the completion of her one-year sentence for “attempting to commit suicide” under Section 309 IPC.

Sharmila continued her fast even after she was released for the 10th time from judicial custody.

She joined her supporters at Porompat, who have been camping near the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) to show solidarity with her struggle, and spent the night there along with her supporters without eating or drinking anything.

As she continued with her the hunger strike, a police team this afternoon re-arrested and produced her before the court of chief judicial magistrate Imphal East, Ronald Keishing.

The court remanded her in judicial custody for 15 days.

The police took her to her room at the security ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, where she has fasting for more than a decade.

As the release and re-arrest have become a routine affair there was no protest over the arrest of Sharmila today.

Sharmila, who was in good health and ready to talk about her struggle and state issues yesterday, refused to make any comment today when the police team came to take her back.

“I have no comment” was all that she replied when reporters asked about her reaction to the routine release and re-arrest and also the manner in which she was being treated by the government.

She did not make any attempt to resist the arrest.

Even her supporters, who had been with her ever since her release yesterday, did not make any attempt to prevent the police from taking her away.

Sharmila yesterday said she would not budge from her stand on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

She has been on hunger strike since November 2000 demanding repeal of the act.

“I will continue the fast until I win the struggle. If necessary I will become a martyr,” she said yesterday.