SC orders release of Manipur activist arrested under NSA

Ground Report | New Delhi: SC orders release of Manipur activist; The Supreme Court has ordered the release of Manipur political activist Erendro Leichombam, who was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA). A bench headed by Justice Chandrachud ordered that the activist be released before 5 pm today. Leichombam was arrested over a Facebook post in which he said that cow dung or cow urine is not a cure for covid.

Justice Chandrachud ordered that Leichombam be released by 5 pm today on a personal bond of Rs 100. Leichombam was arrested on May 13 over a Facebook post.

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According to LiveLaw, in this post, Leichombam wrote, "Corona's treatment is not cow dung or cow urine. Its treatment is science and common sense Professor G." This statement was being said in the context of the death of Manipur BJP President, Professor Tikendra Singh. Angered by this post, some BJP workers lodged a complaint, after which Leichombam was arrested by the police.

On May 17, Leichombam got bail from the local court, but after that the district magistrate of Imphal West district took him into custody under the NSA.

Wangkhem and Leechombam were arrested by Manipur Police under sections 153-A and 505(b)(2) of the IPC and sections 295-A, 503, 504 and 34 of the IPC.

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Leichombam, who is the convener of the People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance, a Manipur-based political party, was charged with sedition in July last year following his controversial Facebook post. (SC orders release of Manipur activist)

The Supreme Court had last week questioned whether the sedition law was "necessary even after 75 years of independence". The law poses a serious threat to the functioning of institutions and holds "enormous power" for abuse with no accountability to the executive, the court compared to a saw in the hands of an overzealous carpenter.

During the arguments, the court said the sedition law had "minimum conviction or very low conviction rates" in history.

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