On December 29, 2023, senior journalist Wangkhemcha Shayamjai, who is the editor-in-chief of Kangleipakki Meira, a local Manipuri vernacular paper, was arrested for publishing an article. The complainant alleged that the HRD article led to tensions between communities in Manipur.

The police registered the FIR based on a complaint by the state vice president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr Laishram Meenabanta Singh under section provocation with intent to cause riots, promoting enmity between different groups, criminal intimidation and statements conducing to public mischief.

After the arrest, he was produced before the Imphal court and was remanded in police custody for three days till December 31, 2023. This triggered outrage among the media. All Manipur Journalists Union and Editors Guild Manipur condemned the HRD's arrest and demanded his immediate release.

Every person has a right to life and liberty enshrined under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution 1950. The Right to life includes the right against harassment and threats. 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 appealed 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.