HC releases Manipur journalist booked under NSA over FB post

The Manipur high court on Friday ordered the release of journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem who has been in jail since May under provisions of the stringent National Security Act (NSA) for a Facebook post saying cow dung and urine cannot cure Covid-19. NSA allows for detention without trial for up to two years.

Based on a letter petition by Wangkhem’s wife Elangbam Ranjita, a bench of Chief Justice PV Sanjay and Justice Kh Nobin Singh suspended the NSA order issued by the Manipur government on May 17 till the next date of hearing on August 24 and directed the journalist’s release before 5 pm on Friday.