On 2 November 2000, a bomb exploded on an 8th Assam Rifles(AR) convoy along Tiddim Road. Thereupon, the AR troops got down from their vehicles and began firing towards people who were running for cover. Ten people were killed altogether, including a 62 year old woman, and at least 42 people were injured by this cold-blooded action by the AR forces in Malom Makha Leikai Boroi Makhong.

Ms Irom Sharmila, 29, from Porompat, Imphal East District, went on a hunger strike to demand the revocation of the "Disturbed Areas" status which was imposed on Manipur, (NE India) under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, as well as the total abolition of the Armed Forces Special Powrs Act, 1958.

She did this because, as she said, there is no more meaning to life in the state…..

Read more about the militarised situation in Manipur, and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, in Manipur Update, Inaugural issue, December 1999:

http://www.geocities.com/manipurupdate/december_issue.htm