BREAKING | Manipur Student organization leader Thokchom VeeWon arrested in New Delhi

Guwahati, February 15, 2019

The Manipur Students’ Association Delhi (MSAD) leader has been arrested in the national capital Delhi. Thokchom VeeWon, current advisor and Ex-President of the organization has been picked by the Delhi police without an arrest memo, in a gross violation of human rights. The reason for his arrest is still unknown, but as per sources, the Manipur Cyber Crime Unit was behind his arrest.

It is to be mentioned that the student leader ran afoul of the Manipur police after raising his voice against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. As per a post on his Facebook account, he was also visited by a Manipur Police Commando from Imphal East. On Facebook, he wrote: “Manipur Police Commando from Imphal East just came to my house and threatened my parents to silence me. This is just wow. Let’s see how long you can keep on going with this.”

It is being reported that he is allegedly being held under 124A, i.e. sedition charges. It is to be mentioned that the number of sedition charges in the Northeast is at an all-time high, with many prominent leaders (including Assam’s Akhil Gogoi and Hiren Gohain) being charged with sedition.

A journalist named Kishorchandra Wangkhem has also been apprehended after speaking out against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the N Biren Singh-led administration in Manipur. The MSAD has demanded the unconditional release of the student leader.