Sharmila showers love on intruder dove

Correspondent IMPHAL, September 29 [dropcap]P[/dropcap]eople for Animals (PFA) Thoubal district unit in Manipur has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the human rights defender Irom Chanu Sharmila for caring for the life of a displaced juvenile spotted dove when the latter intruded into her room. The juvenile dove intruded into the room of Sharmila on Sunday. Sharmila was found feeding (with remains of liquid or solid items which were used in forced-feeding her in the room) and sleeping (to keep it warm) with the poor bird, according to Th Biswajeet of PFA Thoubal district quoting the firsthand account of two lady home guard personnel - Kh Bhani Devi and S Daya Devi. The two women home guard personnel who were deployed at the special security ward of JNIMS hospital in Imphal where Sharmila was detained, handed over the juveline dove to us, Biswajeet of PFA Thoubal which rescues and rehabilitates sick and needy animals from time to time added. Now PFA Thoubal will raise the bird till she fits to survive herself.Sharmila also known as Iron Lady of Manipur, has been on a fast unto death agitation more than 13 years demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, is presently detained in the security ward of JNIMS hospital in Imphal on charge of attempting to commit suicide. Though PFA members were not allowed to meet Sharmila, the organisation has expressed heartfelt gratitude to Sharmila for her love for animals too. PFA is mulling to meet her (Sharmila) in person to express our gratitude someday, PFA Thoubal added in a statement. The population of the spotted dove which was listed in schedule IV of Wildlife protection Act 1972, is declining due to mass poaching in Manipur. In their continuous drive against poaching in the state, PFA, Thoubal had rescued at least 17 spotted doves from three poachers in Imphal East district in April this year. In another development, one Eastern grass owl was rescued from Kakching. One Naorem Tomba found it flightless at his field. Another Eastern Grass Owl was handed by one Yumnam David of Charangpat Mamang leikai in Thoubal district as he detected the bird at his paddy field.Now is the breeding season of this bird and they search food. These flightless birds might have been eaten rodents which eat toxic food from pesticide treated paddy fields. One Hidam Angou of Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Ayang palli in Imphal East district also hands over a Malayan box turtle to PFA team after he found it near his farm.