Irom Sharmila's family, activists call her re-arrest 'illegal'

Kolkata: Condemning the re-arrest of Irom Chanu Sharmila, her family and various civil rights groups in Manipur today termed the move as “illegal” as a local court had earlier absolved her of the charge of trying to commit suicide by means of fasting. “This is a case of illegal detention by the police against a peaceful protester who has spent 48 hours without food and water. The court has already released Sharmila, then how can she be arrested again on the same charges? We strongly condemn this,” Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network founder Binalakshmi Nepram told PTI from Imphal. [caption id=“attachment_1677195” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Irom Sharmila after her release. AFP[/caption] Demanding that the government must withdraw the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Manipur and the rest of the north-eastern states, she said, “The arrest of a peaceful protester who is following the Gandhian way is a blot on our democracy”. Sharmila’s brother Irom Singhajit too condemned the police action and claimed that his sister had sustained a hand injury while she was being forcibly taken away. “Her hand was hurt badly and a nail broke off. We are worried as her health is growing weak. We will consult our lawyer in the matter and plead before the court to release her again,” he said. PTI