“Only cowards abuse the executive power,” said Kishorchandra, who was released following a directive by the High Court of Manipur while hearing a letter petition filed by his wife.
TFM Report
Journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem on Friday lashed out at the Manipur government right after he was freed from the Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa after spending more than two months inside the jail under stringent NSA charges.
“This N Biren Singh’s BJP-led government is a spineless and shameless one,” Kishorchandra fired away while speaking to media persons outside the jail. He took a dig at the state government, stating that he thought it might have learned its lesson from his previous arrests under the same charges. But it seems, they haven’t, he added.
“Only cowards abuse the executive power,” he said.
The journalist also said that the government should respect dissenting opinions and voices. He also accused the present regime of gagging anyone speaking against them.
Kishorchandra also said that he was contemplating to appeal for compensation, so that the government learns its lesson and no one is subjected to such arrests under frivolous charges.
Maintaining that the charges against him are baseless and unfounded, he said that justice has not been done to him. It is injustice (what the government has done to home), he said, adding that he has spent more than six months — more than four months in 2018 and more than two months this time — under the stringent NSA.
He argued that the present system is weak and perhaps needs restructuring as many inside the Sajiwa jail are incarcerated for petty things. They wouldn’t be there if the system was good, he added.
On the alleged campaign orchestrated to curtail free speech, he maintained that its motive is to cause mental trauma to the target and shut them up. He also advised people not to engage with such trolls, adding “truth will remain the truth”.
Kishorchandra also raised some issues regarding the inmates of the central jail. He opined that the High Court of Manipur should look into the rights of the inmates.
Despite the Supreme Court’s directive to decongest inmates in jails across the country in view of COVID-19, he maintained that the number of people arriving inside the jail was more than those leaving it. The home department of the state seems to be ignoring the apex court’s directive, he added.
He also raised concern about the medical facilities of the jail, especially regarding COVID-19. He alleged that the COVID protocol inside the jail was non-existent. Aren’t the inmates humans, he asked.
Kishorchandra’s release came following a directive by the High Court of Manipur while hearing a letter petition filed by his wife. As an interim direction, the court ordered his release before 5 pm on Friday upon his furnishing a personal release bond for a sum of Rs 1,000.