Arrest of ATI activist W Joykumar condemned
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 30 2023:
Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights in Manipur and the United Nations (CSCHR) has condemned the arrest of its member and RTI activist advocate Wahengbam Joykumar from his Wangkhei Hijam Leirak residence in Imphal East district around 8:10 pm on Saturday by personnel of Thoubal police station led by SDPO W Ibocha Singh.
In a release, CSCHR convenor Phulindro Konsam and co-convenor Joy Chingakham informed that Joykumar was taken into custody in connection with the killing of a BJP functionary and charged under various sections of IPC.
The alleged killer, who is also an RTI activist, had made the first call after the killing to Joykumar.
However, according to his (Joykumar) wife, the alleged killer is a client of her husband and her husband advised him to duly surrender to the police, which he did.
The release further informed that the arrest occurred when personnel from Thoubal police station stopped at Joykumar's residence and attempted to enter from the back door during which his wife confronted them and asked them to come properly from the main gate.
After negotiation, he was allowed to change his clothing before being taken into custody.
The arrest memo was signed by his wife, who was also interrogated, the release added.
The CSCHR also opined that Joykumar's legitimate action of advising his client should not be construed as criminal conspiracy and called for his immediate release.
"As a well-known human rights defender, the organisation believes that he should be treated with due respect and dignity while in custody and should not be subjected to any form of mental or physical torture," the release added.
Joykumar has been reportedly remanded in police custody till February 2, the release informed.