IMPHAL, Sept 28 NNN: Thokchom Priyokumar who was arrested by police yesterday on a charge of sending threatening notes to the media houses in Manipur is innocent, claimed a local club on Saturday.
Jadumani Ningthoujam, president, Hayen Youth Popular Club, Uchiwa Hayen Ingkhol Lai Umang claimed that two unidentified people suspected to be militants forced Priyokumar to send the threatening notes on email through his laptop to the state media houses and newspaper hawkers after All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) turned down a press note issued by a militant outfit.
Priyokumar, 30, a resident of Uchiwa Hayen Inkhol Lai Umang in Imphal West district, was arrested by police on Friday. Shortly after his arrest, Gaikhangam, who is also the state Home Minister, had claimed to the media here that Priyokumar was one of the suspects behind the recent threat issued to the media houses.
Jadumani also claimed that Priyokumar is a soft spoken man and he has no link to any militant group.
Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam had claimed that the police had arrested the accused who had repeatedly threatened the newspaper firms and media fraternity including newspaper hawkers in the state recently.
He was nabbed by the police with the help of phone tracking from Kakching Khunou in Thoubal district.
Priyokumar works as a technician with a private company Infra Tel, the Deputy Chief Minister had said, adding further investigation was on to find more clues in connection with the threat.
The threat had caused a serious problem to the state scribes and media houses last month for over two weeks during which publication of newspapers and hawking was stopped for days.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/uchiwa-club-claims-man-held-for-threatening-media-innocent/