Northeast Desk, 8th January: Imphal West’s Duty Magistrate granted bail to Maibam Dhanabir, the editor of Hueiyen Lanpao, on January 7. Dhanabir had been arrested on January 5 and was in three-day police custody until January 7. The arrest was made in connection with an FIR accusing him of “promoting enmity between different groups on the ground of religion” and “wrongful communication of information under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.”
The investigating officer cited a news item published on January 4, stating that “special commandos at Moreh requested to issue 50,000 ammunition to perform their duty smoothly.” The officer argued that such a news item might incite the public to commit offenses against the state or public tranquility.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court granted bail to Dhanabir Maibam, who furnished a PR bond of Rs 50,000 with a like amount surety.
The Congress strongly condemned the reported arrests of two editors in Manipur, including Dhanabir Maibam, and demanded their immediate release. The party alleged a “double-engine assault” by the Modi government and the Manipur dispensation on the state, emphasizing concerns about press freedom.
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