On January 5, 2024, a senior journalist, Mr. Hueiyen Lanpao, the editor of Dhanabir Maibam, a local Manipuri vernacular daily paper, was arrested for his report on “Deteriorating law and order in Moreh following attacks by armed groups on forces''. The journalist had written and published the article against the backdrop of SDPO’s death and injuries to nine commandos in a spate of attacks in the town of Moreh since October 31. The HRD was charged with promoting enmity on the grounds of religion and race (505(1)(b)/505(2), Criminal conspiracy (34) and violating various clauses of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and was remanded in police custody for three days and is presently in detention. This has triggered outrage among the media.

Every person has a right to life and liberty enshrined under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution 1950, Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966. The Right to life includes the right against harassment and threats. The targeted attack on the HRD by the police amounts to a violation of life and liberty.

According to Article 11 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders 1999, “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of his or her occupation or profession”.

HRDA urgently appeal to NHRC to exercise Section 12 (a) of the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019, and take suo moto cognizance of this incident and initiate an independent inquiry through NHRC’s investigation wing.