IMPHAL, March 11 � A day after she was released from the police custody, human rights defender and Manipur�s �Iron Lady� Irom Chanu Sharmila was re-arrested again today.
Half an hour ahead of the President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil�s maiden visit to the State on Thursday, Sharmila, who is on a decade-long fast-unto-death agitation against the imposition of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA) from Manipur, was released from judicial custody as her detention period expired on March 9.
She was re-arrested on the charge of attempting to commit suicide (under Section 309 IPC), K Gitchandra, Officer in charge of Porompat police station, told this correspondent over phone.
Later, she was detained under judicial custody for 15 days after being produced before the court of Ronald Keishing,Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East, on Friday. Sharmila was in judicial custody since November 2000 on a similar charge.
Soon after her release from the JNIMS hospital on Thursday, Sharmila said she would continue her struggle until her goal is achieved. Responding to a question on the President�s visit to the State, Sharmila said, �Being the head of a democratic country, I wish her acknowledgement over the ongoing situation and removal of it (AFSPA) on an experimental basis (during her visit)�.
