An Imphal –based journalist identified as Kishorechandra Wangkhem was sentenced to a 12-month jail term under the National Security Act after he was detained last month for posting a video on Facebook that showed him criticising the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, current Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to the reports, the 39-year-old Kishorechandra Wangkhem was initially detained on November 27 to “prevent him from acting in any matter prejudicial to the security of the state and maintenance of public order”.
Sources said the review board for the NSA order met on December 11 and concluded in a December 13 report that Wangkhem should be sentenced for a 12 month term detention – the maximum allowed.
His advocate said the development was as per the provisions of the NSA and that he would appeal to the courts against it.
The Facebook video reportedly had Wangkhem calling CM Singh a “puppet” of PM Modi and the RSS for organising a function meant to mark the birth anniversary of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi despite the Rajput queen having nothing to do with Manipur.
According to sources, he also dared the government to arrest him in the clip.
Mr Wangkhem had reportedly quit his job with the ISTV, a local news channel, before posting the controversial remarks on Facebook. While the Indian Journalists Union and Press Council of India condemned the arrest, he received little support from the All Manipur Working Journalists Union because it felt that “a social media rant does not amount to journalism”.
