By Jasmine Kshetrimayum
IANS
New Delhi : Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been on fast since November 2000, arrived in the capital Thursday accompanied by Delhi Police officials in response to court summons.
Sharmila's arrival was sudden. "Delhi Police personnel had come to Imphal to bring her to Delhi for a court hearing in Patiala House on Friday," said Onil, a Manipuri activist and Sharmila's aide.
"The court did not give us any prior notice for the court summons. Sharmila and everyone else only got to know when the Delhi Police came to Imphal to take her with them. We were under the impression that she was not required to be present in any of the hearings," said Onil.
She arrived here with a doctor, a sub-inspector from Manipur and six women aides, including nurses and security guards.
"Though no information was given to any of her family members or to us on how long she'd be here in Delhi or where she would be staying, we have learnt that she would be staying at Manipur house," Onil told IANS.
Several security guards have been posted outside her room, he added.
Sharmila has been on a fast-unto-death since November 2000 to demand the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which is in force in Manipur.
She has been force-fed by government authorities for six years and continues her protest against the indiscriminate use of what many call a draconian act.
Sharmila was in the capital last October to continue her protest against the AFSPA and was arrested from near the Jantar Mantar observatory two days later and sent to a hospital. She returned to Manipur this year.
On Oct 7, Delhi Police filed a first information report (FIR) against Sharmila for attempted suicide.
Sharmila is one of the two Indians who were recently chosen for a prestigious South Korean human rights prize in recognition for their work towards improving human rights in India.
Lenin Raghuvanshi from Uttar Pradesh and Irom Sharmila are the co-recipients of Gwangju Prize for Human Rights 2007.