Indian activist Irom Sharmila has ended her 16-year-long hunger strike against a controversial security law, in order to compete in local elections.

Her campaign, described as the world's longest hunger strike, had led to her being detained, and forced fed through a tube in her nose for over a decade.

She was held under a law that makes attempting suicide a crime.

The court in northeastern Manipur state granted her bail on Tuesday and asked her to reappear on 23 June.

Ms Sharmila has signed a personal bail bond and is expected to be released from her judicial custody in a local hospital after bail procedures are complete.

She tasted honey to symbolically break her fast in front of journalists in the hospital.

Indian activist Irom Sharmila has ended her 16-year-long hunger strike against a controversial security law, in order to compete in local elections.

Her campaign, described as the world's longest hunger strike, had led to her being detained, and forced fed through a tube in her nose for over a decade.

She was held under a law that makes attempting suicide a crime.

The court in northeastern Manipur state granted her bail on Tuesday and asked her to reappear on 23 June.

Ms Sharmila has signed a personal bail bond and is expected to be released from her judicial custody in a local hospital after bail procedures are complete.

She tasted honey to symbolically break her fast in front of journalists in the hospital.

(BBC)