The Manipur police on Friday confirmed the detention of Thokchom Veewon, former president of Manipur Students’ Association of Delhi (MSAD), in New Delhi in connection with a case registered at a police station in Imphal West.
Mr. Veewon was learnt to have been booked under section 124A — dealing with sedition — of the Indian Penal Code although the police were not specific.
The MSAD took to social media stating that he was picked up by Delhi Police without arrest memo.
“The reason is still unknown. Heard that the Manipur Cyber Crime [Cell] is behind this,” the students’ body said, adding that the Manipur police had “intimidated” the former MSAD president on Tuesday for speaking against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
“Release Thokchom Veewon unconditionally,” an MSAD statement read.
Some time ago, Mr. Veewon had led a group of students in burning the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh near Parliament. His detention is learnt to be in connection with “anti-national” posts on social media.
Mr. Veewon’s friend Joyshree Heisnam, general secretary of All Manipur Students’ Union, said that he was picked up by police around 5 p.m. from his residence in south Delhi’s Saket.
‘Cybercrime charges’
“We were told by them that he is being taken for cybercrime. They said he had posted something on Facebook. They did not show us any arrest any warrant,” she claimed.
On Tuesday, Mr. Veewon had posted that his parents were harassed by Imphal police who allegedly searched his room and took away some of his belongings.
