By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
Imphal: The Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign Jan Karwan reached Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Imphal to meet Irom Sharmila on October 28, 2011. However the state government detained them after denying them the permission to meet her. All activists were on hunger strike the whole day to protest against the “draconian behavior” of the state government.
The members of the Karwan just wanted to meet Irom to express their concern. They also had with them some gifts including. Heavy police has been deployed around hospital premises and police don’t even permit the Karwan members to sit on fast outside of hospital. Police arrested them forcefully.
Faisal Khan, who is one of the prominent faces behind the Save Sharmila Campaign and also a member of the Karwan told TwoCircles.net that, “It is a matter of shame for the government of Manipur and Government of India. If a government can’t even allow the peace delegation to meet Irom, how can we expect that the same government has any capability for peace talks?”
All activists who are in Imphal from various parts of India condemned the way the state administration handled the issue. Illa pathak, a senior activist from Gujrat, said that “denying the permission is just like opposing the democratic values.”
All karwan members were arrested by police at Porompat Police Station, Imphal including women activists Shehnaz from Gujrat, Mukta and Guddi from Maharashtra. Senior Sarvodayee activist Suresh Bhai, M H Gandhi, Madan Lal Nirula, Balwant Yadav and youth activists Gufran, Shabbir, Sarwar, Qamar, Bilal Kagzi, Gorsi.
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