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| Irom Sharmila: End of world's longest hunger strike | Irom Sharmila: End of world's longest hunger strike |
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| Indian activist Irom Sharmila Chanu is ending her hunger strike against a controversial law after 16 years. | Indian activist Irom Sharmila Chanu is ending her hunger strike against a controversial law after 16 years. |
| She told a court last month that she would end her protest on Tuesday and begin campaigning as an independent candidate for the upcoming assembly elections in the northeastern state of Manipur. | She told a court last month that she would end her protest on Tuesday and begin campaigning as an independent candidate for the upcoming assembly elections in the northeastern state of Manipur. |
| Ms Chanu had been protesting against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives soldiers sweeping powers to arrest without warrants and even shoot to kill in certain situations. | |
| AFSPA is in effect in several Indian states, including in Manipur and Indian-administered Kashmir. | AFSPA is in effect in several Indian states, including in Manipur and Indian-administered Kashmir. |
| Photographer Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist has closely followed her journey in the past few years. | Photographer Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist has closely followed her journey in the past few years. |
| Ms Chanu has been force-fed through a tube in her nose for more than a decade. She started her fast 16 years ago after 10 civilians were killed by Indian soldiers in Manipur. | Ms Chanu has been force-fed through a tube in her nose for more than a decade. She started her fast 16 years ago after 10 civilians were killed by Indian soldiers in Manipur. |
| She has spent most of the last 16 years in judicial custody in a hospital in Manipur's capital, Imphal, where she was force-fed a cocktail of medicines and baby formula. | She has spent most of the last 16 years in judicial custody in a hospital in Manipur's capital, Imphal, where she was force-fed a cocktail of medicines and baby formula. |
| Ms Chanu was released in August 2014 after the court rejected the charge that she was "attempting to commit suicide". But she was re-arrested two days later after she refused to end her protest. | Ms Chanu was released in August 2014 after the court rejected the charge that she was "attempting to commit suicide". But she was re-arrested two days later after she refused to end her protest. |
| Ms Chanu appeared in the Manipur High Court every two weeks to reaffirm her protest. | Ms Chanu appeared in the Manipur High Court every two weeks to reaffirm her protest. |
| Her protest has won her worldwide recognition, with Amnesty International describing her as a prisoner of conscience. | Her protest has won her worldwide recognition, with Amnesty International describing her as a prisoner of conscience. |
| The activist has received considerable attention from local and international media outlets in recent years. | The activist has received considerable attention from local and international media outlets in recent years. |
| Ms Chanu has the support of women and civil rights groups in the state. | Ms Chanu has the support of women and civil rights groups in the state. |
| A memorial has been built at the site in Manipur where the 10 civilians were killed by Indian soldiers. The state has a population of about 2.5 million people and a huge force of army, paramilitary and state police are deployed there to fight insurgent groups. | A memorial has been built at the site in Manipur where the 10 civilians were killed by Indian soldiers. The state has a population of about 2.5 million people and a huge force of army, paramilitary and state police are deployed there to fight insurgent groups. |