Manipur police press charges against those who criticized govt. on COVID-19

Manipur police press charges against those who criticized govt. on COVID-19

GUWAHATI: Manipur police has booked several people who had criticised the government on the way COVID-19 pandemic was handled in the state.

People have been booked under sections of Disaster Management Act and Indian Penal Code.

In Imphal West, 10 cases were there. Three cases were there where people were charged with sedition.

In early April, Yumnan Devjit, a man in Manipur was booked under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, after an audio clip emerged where he was heard urging people to not participate in PM Modi’s 9 min 9 pm call.

The man who is an entrepreneur in his early 30s is heard making an appeal to people citing a tremendous load on the power grid that might cause a nuclear-like explosion in the country.

He added that such an action will damage electrical appliances, along with transformers, power sub-station, and other installations, police informed.

The man has not been arrested yet.

Modi had appealed to citizens to light candles and diyas on April 5 at 9 p.m. for nine minutes to dispel the darkness and gloom brought by the outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus. He termed it as an attempt to show coronavirus, the strength of Indian unity and ‘light’.

“This Sunday, 5th April we have to challenge the COVID-19 pandemic, we have to introduce it to the power of light,” PM Modi said in an address to the nation.

“We have to take Mahasankalp (the supreme oath) by 130 crore citizens to new heights. I want your 9 minutes at 9 p.m. on April 5,” Modi added.

Modi then asked Indians to switch off lights in their homes, reach out from their windows, gates or balconies and light a candle or diya for 9 minutes. Even torches and mobile phone lights would also do.

“Switch off every light in the house, reach to your main gate or balcony and light a candle, diya, torch or your mobile’s flash for 9 minutes,” Modi said.

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