Irom Sharmila ends her 16-year-old fast against AFSPA on Tuesday

Imphal: Irom Sharmila, the ‘Iron Lady of Manipur’, has broken her 16-year-old fast on Tuesday. It may be mentioned that the civil rights activist was on fast to protest against the army terror and Armed Force (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

Sharmila’s mother who was unaware of the news until an official statement from her came, said, “I have waited for the last 16 years. Every day, I prayed that Sharmila be successful in her mission. I had told her that the day AFSPA is repealed from Manipur, I will feed her the first morsel of food with my own hands. That is all I have to say.”

Sharmila is also expected to join politics. There are also talks of her getting married to a Non Resident Indian businessman.

Irom Sharmila on 16-year fast:

• Irom Sharmila is a civil rights and political activist and also a poet from the Indian state of Manipur.
• She started her fast on November 5, 2000 to protest against the Malom Massacre.
• The civil rights activist vowed not to eat, drink, comb her hair or look in a mirror until the Government of India accepted her demand of repealing Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).
• Sharmila said that she did not get the expected support in her protest from the Indian government and the people.