NEW DELHI, March 31 - A group of JNU students were not allowed to meet Manipuri human rights activist Irom Sharmila who was in the city in connection with hearing of a 2006 case of attempted suicide, the charge which was dropped yesterday.
The students were stopped at the barricade that was drawn by the police near Manipur House where Sharmila had put up.
After an hour-long negotiation, Sharmila emerged on the other side of the barricade to the loud cheer of the students.
She acknowledged the students� support through hand gesture as the students raised slogans against AFSPA, against which Sharmila has been fasting for the last 16 years to get revoked.
�Revoke AFSPA!�, �AFSPA down down�, �Irom Sharmila Laal Salam� were among the few slogans that were raised in support of the �Iron Lady of Manipur�.
The 1958 AFSPA rule, which is in effect in many parts of NE and Kashmir, gives security forces sweeping powers to search and shoot on sight, and is criticised for allegedly allowing security personnel to abuse human rights. � PTI
