Imphal:Irom Sharmila also known as ‘The Iron Lady’ has completed 14 years of fast to demand repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958.
To mark completion of 14 years and entering of the 15th year mass fast events were organised in different parts of the state today.
She began her fast on 4 November 2000 after ten people including a National bravery award winner were killed in the infamous Malommassacre perpetrated by 8 Assam Rifles.
After a bomb blast at Malom Assam Rifles personnel went on a rampage and shot dead ten persons who were waiting for vehicles in a bus shed.
A memorial has been constructed at Malom where the ten persons died. Sharmila has refused to take food and water hence she has been kept alive by forced nasal feeding at security ward of JN hospital, Imphal,
Civil organisations, students’ bodies, Sharmila Kanba Lup (SAKAL) also organised mass fast at Porompat, Imphal East on Wednesday.
Film Forum Manipur also staged a sit in demonstration at Lamphelpat.
All Manipur Matam Esei Association organised a mass fast at Iboyaima Shumangleela Shanglen, PalaceCompound. Hundreds of students staged protest in front of their schools and colleges on Wednesday.
In 2009, she was awarded the first Mayillama Award of the Mayilamma Foundation ‘for achievement of her non-violentstruggle in Manipur’, in 2010.
she won a lifetime achievement award from the Asian Human Rights Commission, Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize of the Indian Institute of Planning and Management, Sarva Gunah Sampannah ‘Award for Peace and Harmony’ from the Signature Training Centre etc. (UNI)
