JOIN USIrom Sharmila, who has been on an indefinite fast for the past 11 years, was today re-arrested on the charge of attempt to suicide, only a day after she was released.
Dubbed Manipur's 'Iron Lady', the civil rights activist, who will turn 40 tomorrow, was produced in a local court which remanded her in judicial custody for 15 days, Additional SP of Imphal East district A K Jaljit told PTI.
Sharmila, described as a 'habitual offender' by the court, has been arrested, released and re-arrested for not eating over the last 11 years. She is being nasal fed forcibly at the state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences.
Every fortnight she is taken to the magistrate and as refuses to break her fast, the court extends her judicial remand for another 15 days.
Sharmila is on fast demanding repeal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
Under Section 309 of the IPC, the maximum punishment for trying to commit suicide is one year. Therefore, she is released once every year, only to be re-arrested for continuing the fast.
Meanwhile, to mark her birthday tomorrow, her supporters and family members have planned to light candles in all districts.
"We will have programmes all over the state to mark the occasion and press for the repeal of the AFSPA Act," said Sharmila's elder brother Irom Singhajit.