Detained for sedition, 2 journalists released after they say it was an 'oversight'

Agencies

January 19, 2021

Imphal, Jan 19: A day after detaining two Manipur editors on sedition charges after the publication of an article "supporting revolutionary ideology" in their online news portal, the police on Monday released the duo after they admitted that the write-up was published due to oversight, the police said.

The police said that Paojel Chaoba, Executive Editor of The Frontier Manipur, and Dhiren Sadokpam, Editor-in-chief of the online news portal, were detained on Sunday under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code.

The suo-motu police action was followed by the publication of an article -- "Revolutionary journey in a mess" -- written by one M. Joy Luwang on January 8, criticising the "revolutionary groups" of Manipur for moving away from their original cause.

The police said that the two editors were detained as part of the probe over the publication of the write-up.

"We have released the detainees after they admitted in writing that the source of the article was unverified and it was published due to oversight and such mistakes would not recur," a police officer told IANS over phone.

The officer, on condition of anonymity, said that the write-up had openly "endorsed revolutionary ideologies and activities and expressed dismay over the deteriorating character of armed revolutionaries of Manipur in the past many years".

A delegation of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and Editors' Guild Manipur had met Chief Minister N. Biren Singh earlier on Monday, demanding the release of the two scribes.

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Roadblock to Relief: Speaker Khader’s Push to Expand Key NH-66 Stretch from Nanthoor to Talapady

News Network

November 26,2025

Mangaluru, Nov 26: Assembly Speaker and local MLA U.T. Khader has initiated a high-level push to resolve one of Mangaluru’s longest-standing traffic headaches: the narrow, high-density stretch of National Highway-66 between Nanthoor and Talapady.

He announced on Tuesday that a formal proposal has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) seeking approval to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the widening of this crucial corridor.

The plan specifically aims to expand the existing 45-meter road width to a full 60 meters, coupled with the construction of dedicated service roads. Khader highlighted that land for a 60-meter highway was originally acquired during the initial four-laning project, but only 45 meters were developed, leading to a perpetual bottleneck.

"With vehicle density rising sharply, the expansion has become unavoidable," Khader stated, stressing that the upgrade is essential for ensuring smoother traffic flow and improving safety at the city's main entry and exit points.

The stretch between Nanthoor and Talapady is a vital link on the busy Kochi-Panvel coastal highway and connects to major city junctions. The move to utilize the previously acquired land for the full 60-meter width is seen as a necessary measure to catch up with the region's rapid vehicular growth and prevent further traffic gridlocks.

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