Manipur HC orders release of journalist arrested under NSA

GUWAHATI: Manipur High court has ordered release of television journalist Kishore Chandra Wangkhem. He was arrested under the National Security Act for criticizing the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his social media posts.

Wangkhem, who worked with an Imphal-based television news channel had been sentenced to one year imprisonment under NSA for making derogatory comments against the BJP government and the party’s leadership in a video posted in Facebook.

BJP led Manipur government had argued that he was arrested to "prevent him from acting in any matter pre-judicial to the security of the state and maintenance of public order."


Wangkhem had questioned the rationale of a rally taken out during the death anniversary of Rani of Jhansi and said she had no relevance in Manipur.

Even congress president Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter condemning detention under NSA. The letter to Wangkhem stated, “I strongly condemn your detention under NSA. This is another attempt to use the state machinery to silence dissent. Over the past few months, we have witnessed the BJP government’s design to trample on the constitutional rights of the people of Manipur.”

The journalist had filed habeas corpus writ in the Manipur High Court. Wangkhem was arrested on November 20 for his Facebook post and following court’s order he was released on November 26 last year. He was arrested again the next day and was detained under NSA.