Manipur journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem has been released from jail on Wednesday after the High Court in Imphal revoked charges against him under the National Security Act (NSA). He was imprisoned in November 2018 for allegedly criticising the state government in a social media post.
The Manipur High Court on Monday revoked the detention of Wangkhem and ordered his immediate release. A division bench of Justice Lanusungkum Jamir and Justice K H Nobin Singh quashed the order of the district magistrate of Imphal West for detaining Wangkhem under the NSA. The bench said the television journalist be freed forthwith unless he is not wanted in other cases, Wangkhem's counsel, Soraisam Chittaranjan, said.
Wangkhem, 39, was detained under the NSA at the orders of the Imphal West district magistrate last November for allegedly criticising the BJP, RSS, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh. He was arrested on sedition charges on November 21 and was sent to jail for 12 months.
Wangkhem, who was housed in the central jail here, had moved court against his detention on December 20. His family members had lodged a complaint with the high court that his health had been deteriorating in the prison.
(With PTI inputs)
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