A journalist in BJP-ruled Manipur who was jailed under the stringent National Security Act in May for a Facebook post on the death of a BJP leader due to COVID-19 has been released by the Manipur High Court.
Kishorechandra Wangkhem, a journalist with the news website The Frontier Manipur, had after Manipur BJP chief S Tikendra Singh died of Covid, posted on Facebook, “Cow dung and cow urine didn’t work?”
A bench of Chief Justice PV Sanjay Kumar and Justice Kh Nobin Singh ordered the release of Mr Wangkhem after the journalist’s wife, Elangbam Ranjita, filed a petition. Ms Ranjita opposed the arrest under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).
This comes after Manipur High Court had, earlier in the day, directed his interim release, saying, as per Bar and Bench, that his detention would be as much a “violation of Article 21 of the Constitution.”
Wangkhem’s release comes four days after political activist Erendro Leichombam, who was also arrested under NSA for a similar post on Facebook, was released from an Imphal jail on directions of the Supreme Court.
“We find no distinction or difference between the case of the petitioner’s husband and that of Erendro Leichombam. Both of them put up similar Facebook posts, critical of the utility of cow dung and cow urine in treating the coronavirus,” the order read.
“As they stand identically situated, we are of the opinion that the continued incarceration of the petitioner’s husband would be as much a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, as it was in the case of Erendoro Leichombam,” it added. The article deals with the right to life and personal liberty.
Following the court’s order, Wangkhem, who was lodged at the central jail in Sajiwa was released at 4:20 pm on a personal release bond of ₹1000, his lawyer Victor Chongtham confirmed.
“I have mixed feelings. I am happy for my release but concerned at the way laws like sedition and NSA are being abused by those in power. This was the second time I was arrested under NSA and may not be the last as I am not going to stop raising my voice,” Wangkhem said over phone after his release.
“I may approach the court seeking compensation for my illegal detention so that governments think twice before imprisoning others incorrectly. I will continue to fight against abuse of power and draconian laws like sedition and NSA,” he added.
The SC is already hearing a petition by Leichombam seeking compensation for his arrest and detention.
Wangkhem, a popular TV journalist, has been arrested thrice over the last three years. He was first arrested in November 2018 for uploading a video on social media critical of the government of chief minister N Biren Singh. Wangkhem was booked for sedition and under NSA before his release in April 2019 on the Manipur high court’s directions. He was again arrested in September 2020 on charges of sedition and promoting enmity between different groups on social media. Wangkhem was released in December 2020 following which joined Frontier Manipur and started hosting a talk show.
