New Delhi: The Manipur Police arrested a veteran journalist and vocal critic of the N. Biren Singh administration in Manipur on October 7 in a case of alleged criminal intimidation.
A longtime critic, Laba Yambem had lately been questioning the leadership of Biren in dealing with the year-and-half-long ethnic violence in the state.
In a video circulating on social media, he is heard saying, “Manipur is not Biren, and Biren is not Manipur” and speaking against the fact that “any criticism of Biren is a criticism of Manipur.”
Indian Express has reported that a woman complainant has alleged that one of Yambem’s close associates threatened her using a licenced pistol belonging to Yambem.
The police have booked Yambem for attempt to murder, and criminal intimidation are other offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The Express report of October 8 quoted Yambem’s lawyer and daughter as having said that he had not been produced before a magistrate at that time and that this raises questions on how this matter is being handled. Cops had asked to produce him via video conference but his lawyer did not agree.
Just last month, Yambem’s house at Imphal West was shot at by unidentified assailants. Yambem is a special representative with The Statesman newspaper. He is a former acting president of the Manipur Human Rights Commission and heads the newly formed Good Governance Party.
