The Youth of Manipur (YOM) on Saturday expressed vehement opposition following the re-arrest of its member, Laishram Bidyananda alias Kangleipak Hulk, just days after his initial release.
The arrest was reportedly related to a voice recording uploaded on the social media platform Facebook by a page named ‘Kanglei Mapari,’ which openly criticised the government.
YOM members alleged that this move by the government is a deliberate attempt to incite the youth group into taking up agitation, diverting attention from the underlying issue of the 15-day ultimatum on the collective pledge taken by lawmakers in Kangla.
However, the YOM maintained its resolve, asserting that they will not succumb to what they perceive as a government tactic.
Bidyananda was initially arrested on the midnight of January 31, but he was released the next day after the police determined that he was not connected to the voice recording in question, according to YOM.
However, to the surprise of many, he was re-arrested on Friday after being summoned to the SP office, facing various sections of the IPC in connection with the same voice recording.
Speaking to the media at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal, member of YOM L Manichandra emphasised that the voice recording does not reflect Bidyananda’s real voice but is rather an imitation.
He informed that an FIR had been lodged with the Cyber Crime Police Station on February 2, seeking to identify the actual speaker of the voice recording and to initiate necessary legal procedures.
Expressing concern over what they perceive as selective actions by the government, he questioned why authorities have not taken any action against the Facebook page ‘Kanglei Mapari.’
In response to the arrest, the YOM appealed to the concerned authorities to release Bidyananda and requested the avoidance of unnecessary protests.
