Jailed Manipur journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem’s wife says ‘husband’s jailing has made me more aware’ 

Elangbam Ranjita’s life has changed after her husband, journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem, was jailed under the draconian National Security Act for writing against the state chief minister and criticizing the government. Wangkhem completed 100 days in jail, on Thursday.

Ranjita says, “The personal has become political over the past few months.”

Rajnita, in a conversation with Indian Express, said, “The last 100 days have changed me. I am more aware of what is happening in society. Earlier my focus used to be only my family and my children. Now I also look at human-rights issues and interacting with lawyers and activists.”

“We want to fight it out legally. We will not resort to any backdoor method. When he was arrested earlier in August 2018, the bail granted was on medical grounds and we did not fight it out legally because we were misguided. And because of that, the tag of ‘repeat offender’ is hounding him,” she added.

Imphal-based Kishorchandra Wangkhem was arrested on November 27, 2018, for making derogatory comments against the BJP government in the state and using “abusive” words against chief minister N Biren Singh. He has been jailed for 12 months under the National Security Act. Rights activists and opposition parties, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, has assailed the government for jailing Wangkhem. Gandhi wrote a letter to Ranjita extending his support to the journalist and his family.