BJP Manipur Pradesh vice president Laishram Meenabanta Singh alleged that the news item under the headline — ‘Manipurgi BJP Leigakna Meetei Khulsingda Nongmei Kapshinduna Landahanba Kuki Militants sing yoktuna thamlabra haina hangnarakli’ published on Kangleipakki Meira’s front page on December 2 provoked high tension towards Manipuri communities
TFM Desk
The Manipur Police arrested the former president of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), Wangkhemcha Shyamjai early on Friday morning following a complaint lodged by BJP Manipur Pradesh vice president Laishram Meenabanta Singh over a news item published in Eveninger Kangleipakki Meira, said a source.
An FIR, a copy of which is with TFM, was registered against Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, who is editor of ‘Kangleipakki Meira’ after Laishram Meenabanta Singh filed the complaint with Imphal Police Station on December 2 alleging that the news item under the headline — ‘Manipurgi BJP Leigakna Meetei Khulsingda Nongmei Kapshinduna Landahanba Kuki Militants sing yoktuna thamlabra haina hangnarakli’ published on Kangleipakki Meira’s front page on December 2 provoked high tension towards Manipuri communities.
In his complaint, Meenabanta asked the police to take appropriate action against the editor “for unfiltered news publication”.
Acting swiftly on the complaint, the Manipur Police registered the FIR on December 2 itself under sections 153/153-A/506/505 (1) (b)/505 (2) Indian Penal Code for “wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot, promoting enmity between different groups, criminal intimidation, statements conducing to public mischief which makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumours or report with intent to cause or likely to cause fear or alarm to the public, statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between clashes,”. SI L Dipak Singh was assigned to investigate the case.