Manipur again! Journalist, activist arrested over Facebook post

Imphal: The Manipur police has arrested Imphal-based journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem and activist Erendro Leichombam allegedly over their Facebook posts on Thursday evening.

Sources in the police department said Imphal West police arrested Wangkhem and Erendro from their respective homes following a complaint filed against them by BJP general secretary P Premananda Meetei and BJP vice-president Usham Deban based on their Facebook posts following the death of Manipur BJP president Prof. Saikhom Tikendra Singh late on Thursday evening.

An FIR was lodged against them under section 153-A/505(b)(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the duo will remain in police custody till May 17, sources said.

The arrests were made based on their Facebook posts following the death of Manipur BJP president Prof Saikhom Tikendra Singh late on Thursday evening.

In his Facebook post, Wangkhem wrote: “Santhi Sanyung na yadrabo, oh!!! RIP #Rashikang_Kangyet Hayeng nga chaani.” (Rough translation: Cow dung cow urine didn’t work. Groundless argument. Tomorrow I will eat fish.)

Meanhwile, well-known political activist Erendro wrote on his Facebook wall: “The cure for Corona is not cow dung & cow urine. The cure is science & commons sense. Professor ji RIP.”

BJP leader Prof Tikendra succumbed to COVID-19 on Thursday at Shija Hospital in Imphal after a short battle with COVID-19.

It may be noted that Wangkhem has been in and out of jail on charges of sedition under the National Security Act (NSA) and for “promoting enmity between different groups through a social media post”.

Similarly, the Manipur police had booked political activist and convener of Manipur-based political party People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) Leichombam for sedition over a comment he made on his Facebook page in 2020.

In 2018, he was also arrested following his criticism of the BJP-led government in the state and posting a video on his Facebook page.