SAKAL demands probe into circumstances of rudely violent re-arrest of Sharmila

IMPHAL, August 29: Sharmila Kanba Lup (SAKAL) today took out a mass rally condemning the inhuman treatment meted out against Irom chanu Sharmila during her arrest.

SAKAL also submitted a memorandum to the State Chief Minister demanding a judicial investigation into the circumstances of police brutality during Sharmila’s re-arrest and to immediately release her.

Several volunteers and members of the lup gathered in front of its temporary tent at Porompat and took out a rally under the banner ‘Protest rally against inhuman treatment of Sharmila.’

As the protestors were moving towards the Chief Minister’s bungalow, state security forces interrupted them at the Ananda Singh Higher Secondary traffic roundabout.

Following a brief argument with the protestors, the police allowed only the leaders of SAKAL to proceed further and submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister.

The SAKAL leaders Ima Nganbi, Ima Momon, Ima Ranami, Ima Sakhi were escorted in a police vehicle till the Chief Minister’s bungalow.

The memorandum signed by co-convenor Soiam Momonleima said SAKAL was established with the sole mission to save Sharmila and to intensify the struggle demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.

It said Irom chanu Sharmila is in a fragile condition as she has continued on with the fast for the past 13 years, nevertheless she has continued with her peaceful hunger strike demanding repeal of the draconian act.

However, a team of security forces led by SP Imphal East and the additional SP along with women personnel violently dragged Sharmila from her protest site, and in the violent fracas, Sharmila broke her right toe nail and her clothes were ripped, it maintained.

In the memorandum, the women protestors said those of them who were present inside the temporary tent when the incident occurred heard the SP shout at the police personnel to drag Sharmila out.

It further said that Sharmila was taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Science JNIMS by the Porompat Police and was given medical attention.

Later she was shifted to a special ward of the hospital under police custody as she was re-arrested under IPC 309, for the charge of attempt to commit suicide.

SAKAL has further claimed in its memorandum that the police had not served any arrest memo or reason for the arrest.

The memorandum also claimed that the SP denied any statement on the issue claiming that he was only acting under orders from his higher authorities.

SAKAL strongly condemned the brutal act of the Manipur police and further seek repeal of AFSPA and the immediate release of Sharmila.

It has also demanding a judicial investigation in the circumstances of “her abduction.”