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| Indian court orders release of woman on hunger strike for 14 years | Indian court orders release of woman on hunger strike for 14 years |
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| An Indian court has ordered the release of a woman who has staged a 14-year hunger strike in protest at human rights abuses in the country's remote north-east, her lawyer has said. | An Indian court has ordered the release of a woman who has staged a 14-year hunger strike in protest at human rights abuses in the country's remote north-east, her lawyer has said. |
| "The court has set her free," said Mani Khaidem of Irom Sharmila, who was arrested shortly after beginning her protest. | "The court has set her free," said Mani Khaidem of Irom Sharmila, who was arrested shortly after beginning her protest. |
| Sharmila, known as the Iron Lady of Manipur for her unwavering and non-violent protest, has refused food and water for almost 14 years to draw attention to abuses allegedly committed by the military. | Sharmila, known as the Iron Lady of Manipur for her unwavering and non-violent protest, has refused food and water for almost 14 years to draw attention to abuses allegedly committed by the military. |
| She began her fast in November 2000 after witnessing the killing of 10 people by the army at a bus stop near her home in north-eastern Manipur, which is subject to the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act. | She began her fast in November 2000 after witnessing the killing of 10 people by the army at a bus stop near her home in north-eastern Manipur, which is subject to the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act. |
| She was arrested on charges of attempted suicide and was sent to a prison hospital where she was force-fed via a nasal drip several times a day. | She was arrested on charges of attempted suicide and was sent to a prison hospital where she was force-fed via a nasal drip several times a day. |
| Babloo Loitangbam, a human rights activist in the north-east who is close to Sharmila, said the court had accepted that the charge was not sustainable. | Babloo Loitangbam, a human rights activist in the north-east who is close to Sharmila, said the court had accepted that the charge was not sustainable. |
| "There has been a consistent position where activists have been saying that Sharmila is not taking her life, she is making a political point which is to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act," he told the NDTV network. | "There has been a consistent position where activists have been saying that Sharmila is not taking her life, she is making a political point which is to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act," he told the NDTV network. |
| Sharmila also faces similar charges in the capital, New Delhi, where she has staged a hunger strike in the past. | |
| The act, which covers large parts of north-eastern India and the restive state of Kashmir, gives Indian forces sweeping powers to search, enter property and shoot on sight and is seen by critics as a cover for human rights abuses. | The act, which covers large parts of north-eastern India and the restive state of Kashmir, gives Indian forces sweeping powers to search, enter property and shoot on sight and is seen by critics as a cover for human rights abuses. |