Manipur HC orders release of journalist held under NSA

The Manipur High Court on Monday ordered the release of journalist Kishore Chandra Wangkhem, who was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in November last year, for allegedly criticising the BJP-led state government in a social media post.

Wangkhem, a journalist working with a local TV channel here, was first arrested on November 21 under the National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly posting a video-recording targeting the stance of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly observing the birth anniversary of Rani Lakshmibai.

In the video clips, he purportedly called the Chief Minister a "puppet" of Prime Minister Modi-led Central government.

As per the reports, on November 25, a local court released him on bail but later on November 27, he was picked up from his residence by the police and detained under Section (3) (2) of the NSA Act, 1980.

On December 14, the state government also approved the detention of the journalist under the NSA by the District Magistrate, Imphal West and fixed the period of detention for a period of one year from the date of detention.

He, however, filed the petition on December 19 challenging his detention.Various organisations including the Press Council of India, Indian Journalist Union, student bodies termed the detention as arbitrary and demanded the release of Kishorchandra.