Don't see us like militants: Irom Sharmila

Human rights activist and anti-AFSPA crusader Irom Sharmila, who is on a hunger strike for past 14 years protesting against alleged army atrocities, on Friday said that she was not a militant and only fighting for the right to live.

"They shouldn't see us like terrorists. What I'm doing is give our people right to live with dignity," she said.

42-year-old Sharmila was brought to a Delhi Court here from Manipur amid high security. Her advocate Pankaj Sinha said the case was now in the stage of prosecution evidence and the next hearing is scheduled for March 2015.

"Day before yesterday there was evidence, four witnesses were examined. Today also there was evidence, three witnesses were examined. So right now, the matter is at the stage of prosecution evidence and the next date is fixed for March," said Sinha.

He added that the Delhi Police was clamping down on Sharmila's right to express her voice even after the court had agreed that she could speak to the media.

Sharmila, who is now under judicial custody, is on a fast for over 13 years in Manipur demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

A case was lodged against her in 2006 for allegedly attempting to commit suicide during her fast-unto-death at the Jantar Mantar here.

Sharmila, who is popularly known as the 'Iron Lady', had earlier told the court that she never intended to commit suicide and it was just a protest against AFSPA.

On March 4 last year, the court had put Sharmila on trial after she had refused to plead guilty for the offence of attempting to commit suicide (section 309 of the IPC).

Sharmila, who has been on fast since 2000 and is fed through a nasal tube, went on hunger strike in 2000 in protest against the law which gives security forces wide powers to search, enter property and shoot on sight.