Manipur Journalist & Activist Booked Under NSA for Facebook Posts Against Cow Urine

Imphal: 

Manipur Journalist and Activist Booked: Following the death of the BJP state president, the Manipur Police Department booked journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem and activist Erendro Leichombam under the National Security Act. The two have previously stated that the saffron party should no longer promote cow urine as a remedy for Covid-19.

They had been granted bail earlier in the day by an Imphal court, but the government utilized the National Security Act to prevent their release. 

Wangkhem and Leichombam were arrested on May 13 for a Facebook post in response to a report that the two had insulted Manipur Bharatiya Janata Party chairman Saikhom Tikendra Singh, who died of coronavirus-related problems the same day, according to The Indian Express. The complaint was filed by Usham Deban Singh, the state BJP vice president, and P Premananda Meetei, the state BJP general secretary.

According to East Mojo, Wangkhem's Facebook post stated, "Santhi Sanyung na yadrabo, oh!!! RIP #Rashikang_Kangyet Hayeng nga chaani" which roughly translates to "Cow dung [and] cow urine didn't work. Groundless argument. Tomorrow, I will eat fish."

Meanwhile, Leichombam expressed his sympathies for the loss of the BJP leader, claiming that coronavirus could not be cured with cow dung or urine. He said that only science and common sense can cure COVID-19. 

In its order, the court chided the officers, indicating that they should not lay charges under Section 41 of the Criminal Procedure Code unless they can "satisfy themselves" on the reasons behind the arrest. 

Yesterday, Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, a BJP MP from Bhopal, has claimed that consuming 'gau mutra' (cow urine) will help prevent COVID-19 infection. Sadhvi claimed that she was immune to the infection since she took the gau mutra on a regular basis. 

There are many believers who go to cow shelters at least once a week to cover themselves with cow dung and urine in the hopes of boosting their immunity and fighting the COVID-19 virus. Many believe that the excrements of the sacred cow have medicinal as well as anti-bacterial properties. In the Hindu religion, the cow is respected as it symbolizes life and earth, and the cow dung has been used for cleaning and prayer rituals for centuries. 

Doctors have cautioned against using cow dung and urine since there is insufficient scientific evidence of their efficiency and according to them, it may pose a risk of spreading other diseases. 

Also Read - Black Fungus Drug Worth Rs. 5000 Illegally Sold for Rs 70,000 a Vial