Home Minister says that she has been picked up on health ground
Around 41 hours after her released by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal East, anti AFSPA campaigner Irom Chanu Sharmila was once more picked up by a team of Imphal East Police today from her protest site located at Ayangpalli Road near JNIMS Hospital. She has been undergoing a fast unto death protest for repeal of draconian act Armed Forces Special Powers Act for over 13 years.People were confused on whether she has been arrested or not but Home Minister Gaikhangam who is also the Deputy Chief Minister of the state said that she has been picked up on her health ground.Speaking to a local cable network, Gaikhangam said that it is the duty of the state government to protect the lives of the citizens. As her (Sharmila) health is deteriorating day by day, government needs to give special attention on her health.Meanwhile, senior advocated Khaidem, counsel of Irom Chanu Sharmila alleged that the act of picking up of Sharmila from her protest site by police is an attempt to deteriorate her health slowly. He said that if the government wants to keep her healthy it should fulfill her demands by repealing AFSPA from Manipur.Sharmila was picked up the police team at around 10.20 am this morning while she was protesting with her supporters at her protest site located at Ayangpalli Road near JNIMS Hospitals. She tried to defend herself from police personnel. However, she was forcibly picked up and put into police vehicles.At around 10.30 pm yesterday too a team of medics along with the police had approach Sharmila to check her health. However she refused to co-operate with them.Co-covenor of Sharmila Kanba Lup, while speaking to media persons expressed dissatisfaction to the attitude of the police personnel who came to picked her up. She said Sharmila was pulled up forcibly and one of her finger nail was broken in the police action.Mention may be made that Sharmila was freed on August 20, 2014 following a court order to release her as no evidence was found to support the charges of attempting suicide against her.
