New Delhi, Dec 18: Irom Sharmila, the Manipuri
activist on a hunger strike for the last seven years demanding
the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the state,
on Sunday claimed she was kept under detention at the AIIMS
despite being given a discharge certificate.
Activists working with Sharmila have decided to move the
Delhi High Court on Monday against the Government of India,
AIIMS and Delhi Police protesting "her illegal detention" in
the hospital.
Addressing a group of mediapersons at her private ward at
the premier healthcare institute, Sharmila claimed that she
the hospital authorities had signed papers discharging her and
the police was not letting her go.
However, she could not furnish her discharge papers
when asked to do so by the mediapersons.
Sharmila, who had arrived in the capital from Imphal
in early October to continue her agitation at Jantar Mantar,
was picked up by the police on October five when her condition
deteriorated.
A case of attempt to suicide was registered against
her and was taken to the AIIMS.
"AIIMS has discharged me, but the police officials are
not letting me go. I want to go back to Jantar-Mantar to
continue my struggle," Sharmila said.
"I have not taken anything for the last three days.
Icepacks have been put to keep my body temperature under
control," she said.
There are no orders from the home ministry to discharge
her, a police official in charge of her security said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, December 18, 2006, 00:00