The 42-year-old Manipuri civil rights activist Irom Sharmila was acquitted by a Delhi court on Wednesday in a case of attempted suicide which was filed in 2006 during her fast until death strike at Jantar Mantar.
Sharmila was on a hunger strike since November, 2000, demanding the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gives special powers to the Indian Armed Forces in conflict areas.
Sharmila, who is being fed through a nasal tube since the beginning of hunger strike, was put on trial after she refused to plead guilty on the charge of attempted suicide under the section 309 of IPC.
She informed the court that she was ready to end her fast if AFSPA was withdrawn and also expressed her desire to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue further.
During the final arguments, the prosecutor claimed that Sharmila intended to kill herself and the offence of attempted suicide was clearly made out against her.
The activist countered the claim by saying that she loved her life and the fast is a weapon to achieve her goal and added that it was not a crime to fast.
“Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, had resorted to fasts while making certain demands,” she reportedly said.
“Since there is no meaning of true democracy in the country, human rights activists should join hands. The matter should be brought to the attention of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations,” she added.
