“I Broke Down, Incident Opens Deeper Issues”, Says Irom Sharmila On Manipur Horror Incident

Successive governments have ignored the state and have never really tried to resolve the conflict in Manipur, says Iron Lady of Manipur.

Written by Shivanshi Srivastava July 20, 2023

Irom Sharmila spoke on the horrifying incident that took place in Manipur, 2 women were paraded naked on May 4 by a mob, the video of incident went viral on social media outraging the public, the Iron lady of Manipur said, “When I saw the video of the public, brutal and utterly shameful assault on two women in Manipur, I broke down. Nothing can excuse or justify the sheer inhumanity of what took place. The incident also brings to the fore some deeper issues,” according to the Indian Express.

She further added, “I can speak from my own experience. In my 16-year long hunger strike, when I did not even drink water, I was reduced to a symbol. Despite my struggles, I felt that people would view me as “just a woman’’. I felt like the state’s (Manipur’s) property. That is the kind of attitude people have towards women.”

Mentioning the ignorance central government has shown towards the burning state Irom stated, “Successive governments have ignored the state and have never really tried to resolve the conflict in Manipur or between the communities. The accusation about the Kukis encroaching on the land and there being a large number of illegal immigrants from Myanmar is problematic. The immigrants are refugees and they came to Manipur because they were fleeing oppression and violence in their own country. We need to look at the issue far more sensitively — the immigrants need to be treated humanely. The central and state governments should have dealt with the immigrant issue much better.

Talking about her fight against AFSPA she said, “I feel helpless when I see the news now. My struggle against AFSPA was for all the people of Manipur, all the communities in the state – Kukis, Nagas and Meiteis. It wasn’t just for the Meiteis. After 2004, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh removed AFSPA from Imphal city, the Chief Minister at the time Okram Ibobi Singh had come to meet me at JNIMS hospital where I was kept as a prisoner, and requested me to call off my hunger strike. Others, including senior nurses, also put pressure on me to give up my struggle. But I told them at the time — what about the hills and the tribal people? They will not receive the benefit of AFSPA having been removed. I told them I will continue my struggle till the time AFSPA is removed from the entire state.”

Also Read: “We Were Left To The Mob By The Police”, Woman Reveals In Manipur Horror Incident