Manipur journalist lands in soup over derogatory remark

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IMPHAL

Journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem, popularly known as Wangkhemcha Wangthoi, 41, was arrested for posting a derogatory remark against the Maram tribe on Facebook.

Wangkhem was also arrested back in 2018 under the National Security Act for lambasting the Chief Minister of Manipur.

Wangkhem’s Facebook post on September 3 read, “Wangkhei AC da Tribal Voter Yamna Lei, Nupi atombi (Meitei) na nupi ahal (Maram) da ‘Haothu Haonubi’ hairadi vote khomdokloidra (The Wangkhei constituency has many tribal voters. If the latest wife who is a Meitei tells the first wife who is Maram ‘ Haothu Haonubi’ you old expletive tribal woman, then the votes would be scattered elsewhere).”

Meanwhile, the Maram Women’s Union issued a formal complaint against Wangkhem’s post stating that it aimed to insult and humiliate tribal women and Maram women in particular.

The union further stated that the post would create communal disharmony and demanded that the state government take swift action against Kishorchandra Wangkhemcha.

Elsewhere, the Session Judge Senapati granted Wangkhem anticipatory bail on September 11.

Taking to Facebook, Wangkhem uploaded another post which read, “I will make my point clear to Maram Women’s Union. I won’t run away but Mr Cheap, you don’t need to raise your gun now.”

Wangkhem was later remanded to five days in police custody.