Let militants clear their doubts with my blood: Irom Sharmila on threat to her life

Manipur's 'Iron Lady' Irom Sharmila has said that let militants clear their doubts with her blood.

Imphal: Amid reports that some militant groups were unhappy with her for breaking her 16-year-long hunger strike against AFSPA, Irom Sharmila on Tuesday said let them clear their doubts with her blood.

"(Some) people can't be convinced right now. Let them kill me the way people killed Gandhi and accused him of being anti-Hindu. People also killed Jesus," Sharmila told reporters when asked to comment on any pressure or threat on her over the decision.

"With my blood let them wash their doubts and emotions,"she said after being released on bail.

She was surrounded by a posse of policewomen who escorted her from the hospital, a room of which was converted into jail.

The activist has, however, refused any security and said she wants to settle down in an ashram.

Manipur's 'Iron Lady' ended her 16-year-long hunger strike, the world's longest such campaign, and declared that she wants to become the chief minister so that she could repeal the contentious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

Outside a government hospital, a room of which was turned into a jail for her, the 44-year-old iconic rights activist turned emotional as she licked honey from her palm to end the fast that she undertook in protest against the AFSPA.

During her fast she was force-fed through a nasal tube to keep her alive. Now the familiar Ryles tube hanging from her nose was missing as she broke the fast.

"I want to be the chief minister of Manipur to make positive changes.. If I become chief minister, the first thing I will do is to remove the AFSPA," she said.