Activist Irom Sharmila marries long time British partner Desmond Coutinha
No family members from either side were present while the two were legally tying the knot.
The couple completed their marriage legally on Thursday in front of CPI-ML activist cum film maker Divya Bharathi in Kodaikanal.
Sharmila fasted for 16 years against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFPA.
She also took part in Manipur Assembly election which was held in early 2017.
After failing to win her seat in the election, she decided to quit politics. Though the former CM, against whom Sharmila fought her political battle, could not win, the 45-year old activist managed to get only 90 votes.
Sharmila's brother Irom Singhajit told Hindustan Times: "It is her life and she has a right to live it her way. We were hurt initially but realised she deserves her personal space after giving 15-plus years of her life for the people in the fight against AFSPA."
"It was her decision to go on indefinite hunger strike (from November 2000), her decision to end it, and her decision to get married. That’s why we did not object when the applied for marriage registration last month,” he added while speaking to HT.
Hoping for a happy life, Sharmila's mother, Irom Sakhi, was quoted by HT as saying: "A mother never wants her child to suffer."
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