Accused of media gagging, the Indian government has come under all-round attack for jailing a television journalist under the National Security Law. Journalist unions in the country have condemned the arrest and jail term meted to Kishore Chandra Wangkhem on Wednesday and have demanded his immediate release. While the journalist's family has appealed the jail sentence, the police had to detain protesting student leaders to contain the situation.
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Wangkhem, a 39-year-old local television journalist in the state of Manipur, has been jailed for a year after he criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook. Journalist organisations in India today came together to release a strongly worded criticism of the government on its media gag move.
Indian Women's Press Corps, Press Club of India, Press Association and Federation of Press Clubs in India on detention of #Manipur journalist, Kishorechand Wangkhem, under the National Security Act @CPJAsia @pressfreedom @BJP4Manipur @INCManipur @ManipurCMO @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/6Nz7pCVUP2
— Smita Sharma (@Smita_Sharma) December 20, 2018
With the situation aggravating, student bodies protesting against the move are being dealt with force by police. Police have arrested many of its members thereby fomenting further unrest.
35 students from #Manipur detained in #Delhi for protesting the detention of journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem under National Security Act over his Facebook Post: https://t.co/b17Rh6O33o…/35-students-detained-in-delhi… pic.twitter.com/qEzXdnw9rl
— Binalakshmi Nepram (@BinaNepram) December 19, 2018
Kishore Chandra Wangkhem was first arrested last month in the north-eastern state of Manipur under National Security Act (NSA) an Indian law that allows authorities to detain anyone for up to a year without trial. He was later released and re-arrested this month under the same law.
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On Wednesday, he was sentenced for a year in jail for his alleged crime of posting an "inflammatory" social media video in November, in which he accused Modi and the state's chief minister's, Biren Singh, of promoting right-wing Hindu ideology in the region.
However State Government of Manipur, continues to defend the sentencing in view of the threats posed by on the detrimental acts of Kishorechandra Wangkhem.
Manipur's deputy home minister, Dr. Th Charanjeet Singh, said that the state had considered the evidence and stood by its decision to detain Mr. Wangkhem.
"The Governor of Manipur, after considering the past activities of the detenu and potential danger of his activities, (has decided that there is) apprehension of his continuing to act in similar prejudicial activities the moment he is released from detention. (Thereby), the said person should be detained for the maximum period of 12 months as provided under Section 13 of the said Act," the statement of the government read.
