HER NEW BATTLE: IROM SHARMILA NEEDS TO GET IDENTITY PROOF

GUWAHATI/IMPHAL: She may be India’s best-known rights activist with millions of followers across the world but back home in Manipur, Irom Sharmila has no legal identification document.

The 44-year-old broke a 16-year fast earlier this month, saying she would fight elections to continue her campaign against a controversial law shielding Army personnel from prosecution against even rape and murder charges.

But she has no documents to establish even her citizenship — no permanent account number (PAN) card, bank account or voter identity card — which are necessary for her to fight the polls.

On Tuesday, she expressed the desire to apply for an “identity card” and other necessary documents that will also help her travel outside the state.

“… I plan to attend a mass anti-Afspa campaign in Delhi… I am planning to stay in an ashram for some time and then few days in Ukhrul (Manipur) for the public campaign,” Sharmila told reporters after appearing before a chief judicial magistrate in Imphal in a case of attempted suicide slapped on her during her marathon fast.

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