Kishore Chandra Wangkhem, the Manipur based activist-journalist, was released by the Manipur High Court on Friday, based on a petition letter filed by his wife Elangbam Ranjita, the latter informed Silverscreen India.
The court also suspended the anti-terror National Security Act (NSA) that was invoked against Wangkhem. The next hearing has been set for August 24.
On May 17, Wangkhem and activist Erendro Leichombam were booked under the NSA for their Facebook posts stating that cow dung and cow urine are not a cure for the coronavirus, following the death of Bharatiya Janata Party’s state president Saikhom Tikendra Singh of Covid-19.
“Cow dung and cow urine didn’t work. I will eat fish tomorrow,” said Wangkhem’s Facebook post, while convenor of Peoples Resurgence and Justice Alliance Party Leichombam’s now-deleted post read: “The cure for Corona is not cow dung & cow urine. The cure is science & common sense. Professor ji RIP.”
Both Wangkhem and Leichombam have been detained several times over the past few months.
On July 19, Leichombam was released on orders from the Supreme Court which revoked the NSA order against him, while Wangkhem continued in jail.
Following this, on July 20, Wangkhem’s wife Ranjita wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary of the state requesting his release from the Central Jail of Sajiwa, Manipur. In the letter that she shared with Silverscreen India, Ranjita pointed out that Leichombam, who was detained along with her husband under the same allegations, was released from jail and the NSA order against him cancelled. This being the case, she urged that the NSA order against Wangkhem be likewise revoked.
Ranjita told Silverscreen India that they were only allowed telephonic conversation when Wangkhem was in jail, due to the pandemic situation. She added that he was allowed to call once in 15 days if his family provided money and a phone number to the authorities in advance. “They allowed him to call only on that number,” shared Ranjita.
Following Wangkhem’s release, Ranjita expressed her happiness and said it strengthened her faith on the judiciary system. “I hope, in future, the same justice prevails for all,” she added.
On May 13, the Imphal West Police had arrested Wangkhem and Leichombam based on two separate FIRs filed by BJP general secretary P Premananda Meitei and vice-president Usham Deben. They were booked under IPC Sections 153A and 505(b)(2) that deal with promoting enmity between groups and making a statement with the intent to incite and cause mischief, respectively
On the evening of May 17, the court of the chief judicial magistrate had granted bail to both of them. However, this was short-lived as they were detained again a few hours later after being charged under the NSA.
Based on the powers under NSA, the Imphal West district magistrate T Kirankumar directed that both Wangkhem and Leichombam be detained until further orders.
Following his release, Leichombam had penned a long note on Facebook expressing his gratitude to his friends. In his note, Leichombam also extended his support to Ranjita in her fight to have Wangkhem released.
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He wrote, “The fight for justice and against the devilish nature of unchecked authorities must continue. The next task is for us to continue the fight for Kishorechandra Wangkhem, and fix accountability for the gross injustices that has happened. I too, along with his wife Mrs. Ranjita Elangbam, among others, urge the Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh to revoke his NSA orders too, and reunite him with his family, especially his three small children, and friends immediately. This is not the time to demonize our critics and opponents. During this difficult period all across the world, it is time for reconciliation and good sense to prevail. Let not our political differences poison the deep bond of humanity we all share together.”