Dhaka: Manipuri human rights and political activist Irom Sharmila, who is on hunger strike for about 16 years, has decided to break her fast and take part in elections.

Irom has been on fast since November 2000, demanding repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, a controversial law that grants security forces the power to search properties without a warrant, and to arrest people, and to use deadly force if there is ‘reasonable suspicion’ that a person is acting against the state.

‘I will break my fast as the government has failed to give any positive response. I will fight elections to resolve the issues,’ she said on Tuesday, reports the Times of India.

She will break her fast on 9 August.

Assembly elections in Manipur are scheduled in 2017.

Irom raised her demand following the killing of 10 civilians at a bus stop near Imphal airport by the Assam Rifles, one of the Indian Paramilitary forces operating in the state.

This protester, who is being fed through a nasal tube, has justified using the fast as a weapon to achieve her goal of repealing AFSPA.

‘Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, had resorted to fasts while making certain demands,’ Times of India quoted her saying.

She had been arrested, released and then re-arrested from time to time on the charge of making an attempt to commit suicide.