Activist ends 16-year fast over military powers

A 44-year-old activist who had been on a hunger strike for almost 16 years to protest against alleged brutality by India’s military in the country’s northeastern state of Manipur ended her protest on Tuesday. Irom Sharmila said that she plans to stand as an independent candidate in elections early next year. Sharmila had not eaten […]

A 44-year-old activist who had been on a hunger strike for almost 16 years to protest against alleged brutality by India’s military in the country’s northeastern state of Manipur ended her protest on Tuesday.
Irom Sharmila said that she plans to stand as an independent candidate in elections early next year.
Sharmila had not eaten any food voluntarily since November 5, 2000, when she began her protest against an Indian law that suspends many human rights protections in areas of conflict. Three days earlier, 10 civilians were killed by paramilitary troops in Malom.