Court orders release of Irom Sharmila from jail

A local court on Tuesday ordered the release of rights activist Irom Chanu Sharmila, under detention for attempting to commit suicide by fasting for nearly 14 years demanding withdrawal of a tough law that gives sweeping powers to armed forces from Manipur. Absolving her of the charge of attempt to suicide, sessions judge (Imphal east) A Guneshwar Sharma said, ‘The petitioner (Sharmila) be released from custody if not required in any other case.’ The prosecution, he said, had ‘failed miserably’ to establish her intention to commit suicide by fasting unto death and evidence of the alleged offence, which is punishable under Section 309 of the IPC, was lacking.