Lawfare, Detention – Journalists

The Manipur Police filed a suo motu FIR against the executive editor and the editor of online news portal The Frontier Manipur over the publication of an article that “openly endorsed revolutionary ideologies and activities”. Executive editor Aribam Dhananjoy, popularly known as Paojel Chaoba, was arrested late Sunday night while editor Dhiren Sadokpam was called in for questioning. The two were released Monday afternoon.

The FIR also named the author of the article, M. Joy Luwang, though police are still trying to establish the person’s identity. “The person who has written the article is not known… they (the editors) are not disclosing his identity,” Imphal West Superintendent of Police K. Meghachandra Singh told ThePrint.

All three have been charged under sections 124A (sedition), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 505(b) (causing alarm to induce offence against the state), and 34 (common intention) of the the Indian Penal Code, as well as Section 39 (supporting terror organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.