Ex-councillor arrested, locals stage protest
Source: Chronicle News Service
Thoubal, August 01 2024:
Imphal West Cyber Crime police arrested former vice-chairperson of Heirok Municipal Council on Thursday triggering impromptu protest ,by locals to denounce the police action.
Expressing suspicion that the arrest might be related to a Facebook post the former councillor shared criticising the CM, locals organised a sit in protest, denouncing suppressing freedom of expression and demanding unconditional release of the detained former councillor identified as Thokchom Birjit (40), son of late Khelendro of Heirok Part II Bazar.
He was elected to Heirok Municipal Council from Ward No 6 in the last local body election.
Local Meira Paibi members along with members and volunteers of a Heirok club and FINE Society jointly organised the sit-in protest at Heirok Keithel Mamang.
According to the club general secretary Ningthoujam Sanatomba, Birjit got elected as councillor from Ward No 6 in the last election and held the charge of vice-chairperson of the council.
They suspect that his arrest might be related with a Facebook post he had shared and enquired if the public have no right to express their opinions.
He demanded the government to release the ex-councillor without any condition at the earliest.