Kishorchandra Wankhemcha

Journalist

Manipur

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on 10^th December, regarding the arbitrary arrest under National Security Act of journalist Mr. Kishorchandra Wankhemcha.

Mr. Kishorchandra Wankhemcha was arrested by the Manipur police on charges of sedition under Section 124-A/294/500 of the Indian Penal Code after he uploaded a video on social media where he questioned the government’s agenda of celebrating Rani Jhansi on the occasion of Quami Ekta Diwas. He was released on bail after the Chief Judicial Magistrate Mr. L. Tousing found that the video which he uploaded through social media did not attract section 124-A and that section 294 and 500 IPC are bail able offences.

Next day at around 9.30 AM, the Officer In-charge of Imphal Police Station asked him over phone to come to the Police Station since Superintendent of Police wanted to talk to him. At around 12.30 PM while he was getting ready to go to the Police Station, around 6-7 police personnel in civil dress in 2 cars arrived at his residence and asked him to come along with them to the Police Station and was escorted by the police personnel. The police told the family members that the Superintendent of Police and Additional Superintendent of Police are having meeting, so they have to wait. Later his wife was informed by his brother that Mr. Kishorchandra was taken to Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa by the police.

On the next day, when his wife went to the jail to meet him. He informed that the police had handed over the detention order at around 7.20 PM after 3 days.

HRDA prayed for thorough investigation and to take immediate actions on the perpetrators of the case.