Court orders Sharmila`s release The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Oct 3: Irom Sharmila Chanu, who continues her lonely struggle seeking the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur, was released from judicial custody on the expiry of her jail remand for one year. After her release, Sharmila accompanied by her brother and her counsel advocate M Rakhesh, left JN hospital and proceeded on Maruti van for an undisclosed destination. Earlier they were scheduled to go to Kangla but changed their plan on security ground. The case registered at Porompat police station under FIR no. 157 (10)05 relating to Sharmila was put up today in the court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Imphal west. Sharmila herself was not produced from jail. She was released as the conviction period of one year has been completed today and an order was issued regarding her release by the judicial magistrate. The order passed by M Pemila, Judicial magistrate First Class, Imphal east stated, "After pursuing the record I have found that the statuary period of the accused is now completed, since the alleged section 309 IPC is only a bailable case and its maximum conviction period is one year". Sharmila was arrested last on October 1, 2005 and produced before the court on the next day in connection with the case FIR no. 157 (10)05 of Porompat police station. However, the court released Sharimla on bail on her personal bond of Rs. 5,000 but she refused to furnish the necessary bond. Since then she had been remanded to judicial custody for a period of 14 days, which was further remanded for one year. The remand period expired today. The order of the judge also acquitted her of the charges leveled against her. A copy of the order was also send to the SP central jail, Sajiwa informing him to compliance. Sharmila, the iron lady of Manipur who has been on hunger strike since November 5, 2000 was remanded to jail and has been detaining at JN hospital security ward for the last six year by extending her jail remand every year. She refused to eat in protest against the enforcement of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 in Manipur after the Malom incident when 10 innocent bystanders were shot by the security forces. She was detained at the security ward of government run JN hospital ward and was being force-fed till the time of her release. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ greenyouth mailinglist is the activist support mailinglist for kerala run by Global Alternate Information Applications (GAIA) To post to this group, send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
