NHRC takes note
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 05 2023:
The National Human Rights Commission has taken notice of a complaint Human Rights Defenders' Alert (HRDA) filed against "arbitary detention" of Hemantakumar Ningombam, Editor of Sanaleibak daily by the police yesterday.
The HRDA in its complaint asserted that the senior journalist was "intimidated, harassed and arbitrarily detained" by the police for expressing his opinion on TV.
"We are writing to express our concern regarding the harassment, illegal house search, and arbitrary detention of senior journalist Hemantakumar Ningombam by police personnel of Imphal East (Irilbung police station), Manipur for expressing his opinion on TV on the State Government's anti-drug policy," said the HRDA in its complaint.
Detailing the incident, the HRDA said on January 4, at around 7.30 am, three vehicles of Manipur police personnel led by the 2nd Officer in Charge of Irilbung police station went to the residence of Hemantakumar Ningombam looking for Hemantakumar Ningombam.
Later, the security personnel took him to the Irilbung police station and 'detained' him there.
M Pradip Singh, SP Imphal East and Themthing Ngasangva, IGP came to meet the Editor at the police station.
He was 'detained' for around 4 hours at the police station and later released, said HRDA.
HRDA continued that 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 HRDA urged 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 the journalist and submit a report to the NHRC within two weeks.
It also asked the NHRC to provide security to Hemantakumar Ningombam.