Court Issue Production warrant against Irom Sharmila

A Delhi court has issued a production warrant against the ‘Iron lady’ Irom Sharmila to appear on January 30 next year in a case of attempted suicide during her fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar, Delhi in 2006. Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain issued the production warrant after Sharmila failed to appear before the court. Earlier, the court had issued summons on October 30 against her after Sharmila’s counsel failed to turn up. The testimony of the prosecution witness in the case is being recorded at present. Sharmila is being detained in the security ward of a hospital in Imphal, Manipur. She has been on a fast for about 12 years, demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The court had earlier told her that the maximum punishment in the case was a few months to a year, and since she had been in custody for more than six years, if she pleads guilty, the case would be settled. But Sharmila refused to accept the charges against her. She said that she is fasting for the people of Manipur, as they are being neglected by the government and requested the court not to ask her to appear in court because of her medical condition.