Supreme Court directs release of Leichobam Erendro today

Leichombam Erendro, who was detained under the stringent National Security Act over a Facebook post has been directed by the Supreme Court that he be released by way of interim direction. A habeas corpus in regard to this case has been filed in the Supreme Court by Erendro’s father L Raghumani Singh through Advocate Shadan Farsat.

According to a tweet from Live Law.in, “Supreme Court directs by way of interim direction, release of Manipur based political activist Leichobam Erendro, who was detained under the stringent National Security Act over a Facebook post that cow dung or cow urine will not cure Covid-19.”

Other tweet said “Bench: On SG’s request the matter may be kept tomorrow. In meantime, we are of view that continued detention of the petitioner would amount to violation of rights to life and Liberty. We direct his release as an interim order of this court.”

“Bench: The registrar Judicial to communicate the order to Manipur Centra Jail Sajiwa Counsel: We will press for compensation on next hearing. He shouldn’t have been in custody for this.”

On May 13, Manipur police forcefully detained Manipur based political activist Leichobam Erendro and The Forontier Manipur journalist, Kishorechandra Wangkhem from their homes under National Security Act (NSA) for a Facebook posts that criticised former state president of BJP Manipur Pradesh.

Leichombam’s Facebook post read, “The cure for Corona is not cow dung and cow urine. The cure is science and common sense.”