Irom Sharmila at the hospital on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Imphal, March 6: Manipur’s human rights crusader Irom Sharmila today begged the government to kill her or let her die in peace if it did not intend to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
“If they (the government) think what I am doing is wrong and if the act is not going to be removed, then please allow me to die peacefully or let them kill me,” Sharmila told journalists from her bed in Imphal’s Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital today.

Sharmila has been on a fast unto death since November 2000 to press for the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Manipur. The act, she thought, was responsible for the “endless” rights’ abuse by security forces.

The crusader, who has been in judicial custody after being charged with attempting to kill herself, has been surviving on nasal feeding for more than seven years now in the security ward of the Imphal hospital.

She shifted her agitation to Delhi in October 2006 to draw the attention of the central leadership and the international community to human rights issues in Manipur.

Delhi police sent her back to Imphal on March 3 the following year and she was immediately taken into judicial custody. She completes the judicial remand tomorrow and the state police are likely to send her back to custody after producing her in court.
“
I have not met my mother since I returned from Delhi. But her blessings are always with me. I will continue to shun food until the act is removed, be it in judicial custody or elsewhere,” she said.
The Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission, formed to review the army act, has recommended its repeal. The Centre is yet to act on the recommendations.