Sharmila removes her life support system at AIIMS: Claims brother

Imphal, Dec 3 (UNI) Irom Sharmila, who has been on fast unto death for the last six years demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, today removed all life support system and was refusing any medical help at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS, New Delhi, family sources here said.

Singhajit, the elder brother of Sharmila, who had been on her side most of the time, told UNI over telephone that Sharmila was shocked by the statement of the Prime Minister, Dr Monmohan Singh, during his visit to Manipur yesterday.

However, efforts were on to put her on life support system, another report said.

Sharmila has reportedly denounced the statement of the Prime Minister over the issue of AFSPA. Singhajit said Sharmila has asked even her elder brother not to come to her room and has asked all helpers to leave her room at the AIIMS.

The decision by Sharmila was taken after getting news of the statement of the Prime Minister, Singhajit said. Sharmila who has not touched even a single drop of water had been kept alive by nasal feeding.

The Prime Minister had said that the Armed Forces were in Manipur to do a duty. If peace was given a chance in this state, there would be no need to use armed forces for the task they now charged with.

A Committee had been set up to review the provisions of AFSPA and it has done its job. He added "we need to consider some amendments to the Act by modifying existing provisions or inserting new provisions, whereby it could be made more humane giving due regard, to the protection of basic human and rights". "The people of Manipur are entitled to the same privileges and protections of law as the citizens in the rest of the country", the prime minister said here yesterday.

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