The Manipur Police announced on Monday that two people arrested last week over Facebook posts following the death of state BJP chief S. Tikendra Singh had been booked under the stringent National Security Act.
Journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem and political activist Erendro Leichombam were arrested for their posts after Tikendra died of COVID-19 on May 13.
NDTV reported, "They had made two separate social media posts on those who advocate cow dung and urine as cure for COVID-19, after the death of Manipur BJP president Tikendra Singh due to the virus. The posts were in reference to pictures and videos by news agency Reuters that reported that a group of rightwing activists smear cow dung and urine on them to prevent or cure COVID-19 despite scientific research showing no such benefits."
The Quint reported that Wangkhem wrote in the local language, "Cow dung, cow urine didn’t work. Groundless argument. Tomorrow, I will eat fish."
They were arrested following a complaint by BJP state unit functionaries. NDTV reported a court in Imphal on Monday ordered Wangkhem be "detained under section 3(2) of National Security Act, 1980" and he be "prevented from commission of such prejudicial activities".
Wangkhem had been arrested and detained under the NSA in late 2018 for allegedly making derogatory comments against the BJP-led government in the state and Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. He was released in 2019 after spending over four months in detention.
Liechombam is the founder of the People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance, which contested the 2017 Assembly polls, with activist Irom Sharmila as a candidate. Liechombam was charged with sedition in 2020 for a Facebook post criticising Sanajaoba Leishemba, the state's titular king, for being elected to the Rajya Sabha as a BJP member.
A number of journalists condemned the arrest of Wangkhem. The Mumbai Press Club on Sunday tweeted, "We strongly condemn the arrest of Imphal-based journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem and demand his immediate release. While expressing his condolences to a BJP leader, he wrote cow urine and dung are not a cure for Covid."
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Over the past year, multiple BJP leaders have argued that cow products could prevent COVID-19. On Sunday, BJP MP for Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur had claimed drinking a cow urine extract had helped her remain safe from COVID-19.
