The state government’s action did not go down well with netizens. Many said that they were trying to debunk a dangerous myth.
TFM Desk
Differing with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on their claim of cow dung and cow urine as Covid-19 cure could attract stringent National Security Act (NSA) and land you in jail in India’s Northeastern state Manipur. Yes, you read it right!
A journalist and an activist have been booked under NSA, which provides for detention for up to a year without trial, in Manipur. Imphal-based journalist Wangkhemcha Wangthoi @ Kishorchandra, 41, and political activist Leichombam Erendro, 40, were arrested on May 13 evening for stating cow urine and dung are not cures for Covid-19 in their Facebook posts soon after report of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state chief S Tikendra Singh’s death due to Covid-19 broke out.
Invoking the NSA against them, Imphal West District Magistrate Th Kirankumar observed that their activities are prejudicial to the security of the State and to the maintenance of public order. And he considered it necessary to detain both with a view to prevent them from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the State and to the maintenance of public order.
The NSA was slapped on them on Monday before they could complete the formalities of their release after Chief Judicial Magistrate of Imphal West Y Somorjit Singh granted them bail.
According to their lawyer Victor Chongtham, “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.”
Victor said they are planning to send representations on Wednesday to the union home ministry and the state government seeking their release. “If that fails to elicit the desired outcome in 15 days, we will approach the Manipur High Court,” he added.
Outrage against slapping NSA
The state government’s action did not go down well with netizens. Many said that they were trying to debunk a dangerous myth.
One Twitter user wrote, “Kishorchandra was slapped with NSA because he took potshots at BJP’s cow politics.”
Another user tweeted, “This is the 3rd time Kishorchandra Wangkhem is being persecuted by the BJP govt in Manipur. Shame on you, @NBirenSingh for not giving up your assault on freedom of speech.”
Meanwhile, Reacting to the development, director of Human Rights Alert Babloo Loitongbam said, “Clamping NSA on persons bailed out by the court is a clear case of arbitrary detention and a violation of human rights. Resorting to such abhorrent practice repeatedly by the present regime only exposes the hollowness of its claim of being ‘citizen-centric governance’.”
Controversy over FB posts
Kishorchandra had uploaded a post on Social Media (Facebook) stating as “Santhi Sanyungna yadrabo oh!!! RIP #RashikangKangyet Hayeng nga Chaani” (Rough translation: Oh!!! Cow dung and cow urine do not work. RIP #Rashikang-Kangyet. I will have fish tomorrow). Erendro Leichombam also posted on his FB account saying “The cure for Corona is Not cow dung & cow Urine. The cure is science & common Sense. Professorji RIP”.
They were arrested within two hours of uploading their posts. Both were booked under sections 153-A/505(b)(2) IPC r/w 201/295-A/ 503/504/34 IPC for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony and with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public.
FIRs lodged against them claimed that the posts were “done by inferring/relating to the death of our leader President of BJP Manipur Pradesh namely late Professor S Tikendra Singh due to COVID-19.” ‘“The accused intentionally committed the offence in order to create enmity, hatred, ill-will in order to instigate violence between different communities and classes of people in the state and also provoking the Hindu sentiment on the demise of our beloved and popular BJP leader, it added.
However, both Kishorchandra and Erendro submitted through their counsel argued that there are no substances in the allegations to attract the offence as alleged. It is also submitted that the Facebook post made by the accused had nothing to do with the state in view of the fact that they were purely personal comments.
They also admitted that the Facebook post was made at the wrong time and wrong situation and was not meant to hurt the sentiments of anyone but to echo the scientific reasoning that cow dung and cow urine do not cure Covid-19. It is further submitted that it was just their personal feeling expressed through the medium of Facebook.
It may be noted that late Professor S Tikendra Singh had claimed that cow urine can cure cancer and one litre of cow urine can fetch Rs 500 in the international market. He had also claimed that cow dung and cow urine can multiply India’s economy. He made the claim during a debate on “beef ban” aired by a local cable TV network.