SC orders release of Manipur activist Erendro Leichombam by 5 pm today
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the release of Manipuri activist Erendro Leichombam by 5 PM on Monday.
- Jul 19, 2021,
- Updated Jul 19, 2021, 12:21 AM IST
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the release of Manipuri activist Erendro Leichombam by 5 PM on Monday.
Leichombam (40) was detained on May 13 under the National Security Act (NSA) over a Facebook post where he stated that cow dung and cow urine cannot cure COVID-19.
He made the remark while condoling the death of the then state BJP President S Tikendra Singh who died of COVID-19.
A local journalist, Kishorechandra Wangkhem (41) was also arrested along with the activist for making a similar remark.
Also Read: Assam govt mulls for oxygen supply at homes, informs Health Minister
Reportedly, a bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and M.R. Shah said a person cannot be kept in jail even for a day for such a minor offense.
The arrests were made following an FIR lodged by Manipur BJP vice-president and General Secretary P Premananda Meetei.
Leichombam's father, L. Raghumani Singh filed a plea in the Supreme Court stating that he was arrested solely for criticizing BJP.
A sedition case was filed against him over a Facebook post in July last year. In September 2018, he was arrested for posting a video supposedly showing some youth from Bihar threatening Manipuris.