Mr. Hemantakumar Ningombam is a senior journalist in Manipur and the Editor of Sanaleibak Daily Manipuri Newspaper. On 4 January 2023, early in the morning, three vehicles of Manipur Police personnel went to the residence of Mr. Hemanta Kumar Ningombam. The police personnel entered and searched all the rooms looking for Ningombam.

Later, the security personnel took him to the Irilbung Police Station and detained him there. He was detained for around 4 hours at the police station and later released.

The reason for the detention as given by the police was for expressing his opinion on War on Drugs in relation to the poppy cartel in ISTV (local cable TV network) discussion.

The right to exercise freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(a) of the Indian Constitution has been violated. States are under an obligation to prevent, protect against, and prosecute attacks against journalists and human rights defenders. A free press and active civil society are essential to ensure the public’s right to know so that governments and institutions can be held accountable.

HRDA India urges the NHRC to Direct the Director General of Police of Manipur to initiate an immediate, independent, thorough, transparent, effective and impartial investigation into the arbitrary detention of journalist and submit a report to the NHRC within two weeks and to Provide security to the journalist Mr. Hemantakumar Ningombam as he stands at further risk of reprisals and submit a report to the NHRC within two weeks.