Indian human rights activist Il Sharmila stopped the hunger strike, which lasted 16 years. She started her strike in 2000 after 10 civilians were killed by Indian soldiers in the northeastern state of Manipur. Since then, Sharmila, also known as the "Iron lady of Manipur," on hunger strike, expressing thus the protest of India, which gives broad powers to the military. They have the right to detain suspects without a warrant and commit other illegal acts. Since 2000, the activist was arrested at least 14 times over the suicide attempt, prompting the government to feed her forcibly in accordance with the law that makes attempted suicide illegal. Woman force-fed through an IV for 10 years. However, in 2014, her lawyer, Hidem Mani, contested the charges in the suicide, referring to the story of hunger in the country. In court he refers to Mahatma Gandhi, who used the same mode of protest during struggle for independence. He also claimed that the hunger strike is not a crime. The Prosecutor issued a decision where there was insufficient evidence to prove that she tried to commit suicide. However, he canceled the attempt of the lower court to blame her for the suicide attempt. After the court has rendered a decision on her release, Sharmila resumed her hunger strike, according to her lawyer. It is believed that after the end of her hunger strike, she is going to campaign as an independent candidate in the elections, which will be held next year in Manipur - the poorest state in the remote North-Eastern zone of India.