Scribe, activist booked under National Security Act in Manipur

SOME BJP LEADERS HAVE FILED CASES AGAINST HIS CLIENTS, WHO HAVE EARLIER FACED SEDITION CHARGES

GUWAHATI : The Manipur police have booked a journalist and an activist under the National Security Act (NSA), which provides for detention for up to a year without trial, days after they were arrested for saying cow urine and dung do not cure Covid-19 in their Facebook posts related to ruling Bharatiya Janata Party state chief S Tikendra Singh’s death of the disease.

Victor Chongtham, the lawyer of Kishorechandra Wangkhem, the journalist, and activist Erendro Leichombam, said the NSA was slapped on his clients before they could complete the formalities of their release after an Imphal court on Monday granted them bail. “We had deposited their bond amounts and were awaiting a printed copy of the court’s order granting them bail when the police decided to detain both under NSA,” said Chongtham. He added some BJP leaders have filed cases against his clients, who have earlier faced sedition charges and were arrested on Thursday for writing the posts.

Chongtham said they are sending representations to the Centre as well as the state government seeking their release. “If that fails to elicit the desired outcome, we will approach the Manipur high court.” Imphal West district police superintendent K Meghachandra Singh said the NSA was slapped on the two on Monday and they were produced in a court through video call and remanded in judicial custody for four days. “Both are in Imphal jail.”