Irom Sharmila ends fast, to contest against Manipur CM

August 9, 2016

Imphal, Aug 9: Manipur's 'Iron Lady' Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on fast for about 16 years demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state, was today released by a court here after signing Personal Recognition (PR) Bond.

The 44-year-old iconic rights activist is, however, yet to walk out of her jail ward at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences here pending the release order.

Court officials told PTI that the court will issue the order to the jail authority to formalise her release today itself.

Sharmila had appeared before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate of Imphal West, Lamkhanpau Tonsing this morning at about 11 a.m and was granted bail on personal bond of Rs 10,000.

She requested the CJM to release her on PR Bond promising to break her 16-year-old fast against AFSPA but the judge told her that pleading guilty was the only option to release her but she did not agree to it.

Ultimately the CJM allowed her to sign the PR Bond. After coming out from the courtroom Sharmila came to address the media in another room but due to the heavy rush there and chaotic situation, the activist was whisked away by police to her jail ward in hospital.

Sharmila had a fortnight ago announced that she will break her fast today, join politics and get married.

"I have been fasting for the past 16 years, I am ending my fast today. I want to try a different agitation now," Sharmila told the media outside the courtroom today.

"I will contest against the chief minister of Manipur in the upcoming state elections," she said, adding that she will get AFSPA repealed once she wins the elections.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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