Imphal, April 8: The Manipur High Court on Monday ordered the release of journalist Koshorechandra Wangkhem, who was arrested in November 2018 after he criticised the BJP-led state government on social media. The bench was hearing the petition filed by NGO Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), which had called Wangkhem's arrest as "illegal" and violation of the fundamental right to free speech.

Wangkhem was slapped with the stringent National Security Act (NSA), after the 39-year-old scribe had posted remarks critical of Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Facebook. He had condemned the CM for organising an event commemorative of Queen of Jhansi's fight against the British regime, and linking it to Manipur's freedom struggle. Manipur Scribe Sentenced to One-Year Detention Under NSA Act for Targeting PM Modi.

The bench today ordered the revocation of NSA, thereby, clearing the legal hurdle to free him. The decision has been welcomed by Kishore’s wife Ranjita Elangbam.

Update by News Agency ANI:

Addressing a press conference organised last month, Elangbam said her husband was wrongly labelled by the prosecution as a "womaniser, alcoholic and even abusive" as part of the propaganda. "It is unbearable for me and my two daughters," she had said.

Wangkhem's detention under NSA was ordered by the Imphal District Magistrate on November 27 last year, allegedly after he uploaded videos criticising the BJP-led governments in Manipur and the Centre for observing Rani Jhansi's birth anniversary.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 08, 2019 05:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).