Journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhemcha and political activist Erendro have been languishing in jail since May 18 after a court granted bail on the same day. But before they could be released, the government invoked the National Security Act.
TFM Desk
United Front Manipur (UFM) urged the state government to release journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhemcha and political activist Erendro Leichombam who have been detained under the National Security Act, 1980 for their Facebook posts. UFM also asserted that the Manipur Government should protect their rights.
The Manipur Police booked Kishorchandra and Erendro under the National Security Act over their Facebook posts made after the death of the BJP state president on May 18. An Imphal court had granted them bail earlier on the same day, but before they could be released, the government invoked the National Security Act against them.
They were arrested on May 13 for Facebook posts based on complaints made by state BJP vice-president Usham Deban Singh and general secretary P Premananda Meetei.
In a release on Wednesday, UFM contended that it was a wrong step on the part of the Manipur government. It has raised the question where the biggest democracy in the world is headed, it added.
“Shouldn’t the duo enjoy the rights enshrined in the Constitution of India under Article 19,” UFM asked, adding that they are also the citizens of this country. UFM also urged the state government to ponder over the case minutely.
UFM also maintained that nobody is above the law. The case was carefully examined by the court and gave its verdict. The state government should consult with the Law Department and ponder whether the case warrants invoking NSA or not, it asserted.