Advocate Sanaojam Samachoron Singh alias Sanou was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly abusing the “mainland Indian” and using derogatory language against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a discussion hour on a local TV channel.
Sanou was arrested following a complaint filed by the president of BJP Yuva Morcha, Manipur M Barish to the Imphal police station on Monday. The discussion was hosted by a local TV channel a day after the Union Home Minister gave a statement that Hindi language would be made compulsory till class 10 in the Northeastern states including Manipur. The move was opposed by many, including the opposition, and student bodies among others.
As per the complaint, the lawyer during the discussion hour held on April 9 not only abused the “mainland Indian” but also used “foul and derogatory” language against the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The complainant further said Sanou deliberately “humiliated” and “belittled the Hindus of mainland India” by even terming them "animals" and continued to further use derogatory language, thereby hurting the racial and religious feelings of the entire India which amounts to sedition despite the other panelists restraining him to do so.
“The very act of the accused is deliberate and malicious which brings into hatred, contempt and excites the innocent public against the government established by law and intended to outrage religious feelings of religious belief of Hindus of mainland India, including Manipuri Hindus,” the complaint stated.
The BJYM president requested the officer in charge of the police station to investigate the matter by booking and arresting the accused and punishing him as per law of the land.
Subsequently, Sanou was arrested late Tuesday evening and was detained at Imphal Police station.
He was later released on bail by the duty magistrate late at night after furnishing a bail bond of Rs 30,000.
