Even after 14 yrs of Sharmila's arrest, there has been no formal trial in a court
IMPHAL, May 9 (NNN): Formal hearing will begin in connection with the case of Irom Sharmila’s hunger striker from May 14.
Ever since Sharmila was arrested in the year 2000 there has been no formal trial in the court so far. Noted advocate Khaidem Mani is the new counsel for Irom Sharmila now.
Irom Sharmila is agitating by way of refusing to eat food (fast unto death) since the year 2000 demanding the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958. The authority has arrested her and jailed her on the ground that her move amounts to attempt to committing suicide. Since Sharmila has been nose-fed forcibly by the authority she needs constant medical attention and for that she has been lodged at the security ward of Jawarharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.
Advocate Khaidem Mani said today that Irom Sharmila's case cannot be considered 'an attempt to commit suicide.' Khaidem Mani said Sharmila is democratically agitating with a non-violence principle and not trying to take her life. "Sharmila is demanding the repeal of AFSPA 1958, an act which allows even a non-commission officer to shoot a suspect," stated the Advocate. Khaidem Mani said there are 5 crore people living in the North East region and Sharmila wants that draconian law like AFSPA does not cripple them.
Meanwhile, Irom Sharmila was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Imphal East district after a charge sheet was submitted by Porompat police station against her under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code.
