Manipur students march for Irom Sharmila

Chandigarh: As Irom Chanu Sharmila is about to enter into the 16th year of her fast demanding the repealing of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, Manipuri students in Chandigarh feel that the basic rights of freedom are exploited with such laws being exercised in the largest democracy of the world."Democracy should be more meaningful. The essence of democracy seems to have lost with such cruel laws being practiced in a nation like ours," said Kitt Khangembam, general secretary of Manipur Students' Association Chandigarh (MSAC), who had organized a candlelight vigil at Student Centre in Panjab University on Monday.The students marched peacefully on the PU campus and gathered at Student Centre to mark their protest. "We are protesting against the Malom killings and AFSPA. I do not understand why the government has failed to address the issue," said Sophia, a student, who was a part of the candle light march."We want that AFSPA should be repealed so that no further harm should be done to any human life. We can't afford to lose more lives," said K Prasanjit, who has been organizing such peaceful protests in Chandigarh from the last seven years. "If there is peace in our region, then only we can study and work freely while being in other states of the country. The unrest in the region badly affects the youth as bank and other services are affected, which creates problematic conditions for us," added Prasanjit.