Manipur’s ‘Iron Lady’ completes 10 yrs of fasting Bijay Sankar Bora
Tribune News Service

Irom Sharmila - “Iron Lady” of Manipur has completed 10 years of fast-unto-death on Tuesday, demanding withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, from Manipur to save innocent people from harassment in the conflict between the security forces and militants.
Sharmila began her tirade against AFSPA 10 years ago after 10 civilians were killed in an alleged encounter by the Assam Rifles personnel near Imphal airport. A room in Imphal’s Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital where she is being fed through the nose has been converted into a jail for Sharmila, now in judicial custody.