Sedition Case Against Manipur Politician Who Blamed Violence on Assam Rifles

 Imphal West police filed an FIR against Jagat Thoudam, an advisor to the Indigenous Peoples’ Front of Manipur, after receiving a complaint from an Assam Rifles unit near the capital city.

Jagat Thoudam was booked by police for sedition. Photo: Twitter/@jagat_thoudam.

The Wire, 17 JUNE 2023, New Delhi: Imphal West police have accused a politician from the city of sedition after he claimed that an Assam Rifles unit in Manipur was responsible for creating the turmoil in the state.

An FIR was filed against Jagat Thoudam based on a complaint from the Headquarters Inspector General, Assam Rifles (IGAR) (South) at Mantripukhri, the Frontier Manipur reported.

IGAR (South) released a press note criticising Thoudam’s claims, which have since been published by multiple newspapers.

“The article apart from being ‘ex parte’ and lacking any objectivity, is outrightly baseless, defamatory and apparently aimed at spreading hatred against the Assam Rifles as also [sic] incite animosity between the two communities,” the press note said according to the Frontier.

Thoudam, who is an advisor to the Indigenous Peoples’ Front of Manipur, has also been accused under Section 153 A of the IPC, which deals with promoting enmity between different groups and acting prejudicially to the maintenance of harmony, the Hindu reported.

The Assam Rifles is a paramilitary force that operates in northeastern India and is controlled by the Union government.

Thoudam made multiple accusations against the Rifles in an article titled ‘Civilians Do Not Fight With Militants in Ethnic Clash’, posed in question format.

He asked: “Are you aware that the present crisis in Manipur is the creation of the Assam Rifles under IGAR (South), Mantripukhri? Are you aware that … terrorist outfits based in Myanmar have grown to a monstrous size and strength in Manipur under the protection [of] the Assam Rifles?”

File photo of violence in Manipur. Photo: Twitter/@MangteC

Manipur’s chief secretary previously warned that the government would charge people with sedition for spreading “fake news, lies, rumours or misinformation”, NDTV reported in May.

Residents of the state have endured an essentially indefinite internet ban for 45 days as of Saturday, June 17, imposed by the government to curb the spread of misinformation and hate speech.

Meanwhile, violence continues to grip the state. Union and state ministers have had their homes set ablaze and at least 115 people have lost their lives.