She started her fast 16 years ago after 10 civilians were killed by Indian soldiers in Manipur.

She has spent most of the last 16 years in judicial custody in a hospital in Manipur's capital, Imphal, where she was force-fed a cocktail of medicines and baby formula.

Ms Sharmila was released in August 2014 after the court rejected the charge that she was "attempting to commit suicide". But she was re-arrested two days later after she refused to end her protest.

Ms Sharmila appeared in the Manipur High Court every two weeks to reaffirm her protest.

Her protest has won her worldwide recognition, with Amnesty International describing her as a prisoner of conscience.

The activist received considerable attention from local and international media outlets in recent years.

Ms Sharmila has the support of women and civil rights groups in the state.

A memorial has been built at the site in Manipur where the 10 civilians were killed by Indian soldiers. The state has a population of about 2.5 million people and a huge force of army, paramilitary and state police are deployed there to fight insurgent groups.

(BBC News)