Manipur: A case registered against senior journalist custody by NHRC

Imphal: Human Rights Defenders (HRDA) has alerted the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the “arbitrary detention” of a senior journalist by the Manipur police for giving a statement on local TV against the state government. , has filed a case in New Delhi. – Drug policy.

In a letter to the NHRC in New Delhi, HRDA alleged “harassment, illegal search of residence, and arbitrary detention of senior journalist Hemanta Kumar Ningombam” by the police in Imphal East. Expressed concern. The letter was signed by HRDA National Working Secretary Henri Tiphagne.
Senior journalist Hemanta Kumar Ningombam is the editor of Sanaleibak, a local Manipuri language daily.

The HRDA appealed to the NHRC to treat the incident as “retaliatory action against a journalist and human rights defender for exercising his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights”.
He urged the NHRC to immediately direct the Director General of Police, Manipur to initiate an immediate and impartial inquiry into the matter and submit a report to the NHRC within two weeks.

He also sought security for Ningombam.

According to HRDA, at around 7:30 am on Wednesday, three vehicles of Manipur Police personnel led by the Second Officer-in-Charge of Irilbang Police Station went to the residence of Hemanta Kumar Ningombam The policemen took him to Irlbing police station and detained him for about four hours before releasing him.
It also stated that M Pradeep Singh, SP Imphal East and IGP Themthing Ngasangva had come to meet the editor at the police station.

According to HRDA, the reason for the detention by the police was for expressing his views on the government’s anti-drug policy in relation to the poppy cartel in a panel discussion on ISTV, a local TV channel.
HRDA said that this is not the first time that security personnel have arrested and detained journalists in the state for expressing their views against the government.

It said that there have been several cases in the past where many journalists have been arrested and booked on frivolous charges under the National Security Act.
In Nagaland, the residents of Tizit are losing the war against drugs.
In Nagaland, the residents of Tizit are losing the war against drugs.

“We strongly believe that the search of a senior journalist without a search warrant and then detaining and harassing him at a police station is a political vendetta to suppress any dissent against government policy. HRDA said.

Meanwhile, journalist Ningombam said that the police could have summoned him in good faith instead of going heavy-handed.