Thokchom Veewon
Thokchom Veewon. Image credit - Twitter@laimacha

Advisor of the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi (MSAD) Thokchom Veewon has been arrested by Delhi police on Friday. Thokchom Veewon is a former president of Manipur Students’ Association Delhi.

According to sources, Veewon has been arrested during a joint operation by Manipur police and Delhi police from his rental home at Saket in South Delhi.

Sources also said, police have picked up the Manipuri student leader on sedition charges. He has been vocal against Manipur journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem’s arrest under NSA and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and had led protests in Delhi.

It has been alleged that Veewon was arrested without providing any reason and arrest warrant.

The news of Veewon’s arrest has gone viral on the social networking sites.

In a facebook post, it has been alleged: “They (police) physically assaulted him, beat him, slapped him, dragged him and didn’t even allowed him to wear slippers while picking him up from his residence. They also robbed him of his laptop and mobile phone.”

There are reports that he was searched by Manipur police on Thursday.

Veewon, has been currently kept at Janakpuri Police Station, is likely to be taken to Manipur.

According to information, a number of students, activists and lawyers have gathered in front of Janakpuri PS so that Veewon’s shifting to Manipur can be stopped.

It has also been speculated that the “cyber crime” is behind the MSAD adviser’s arrest.

The Wire  quoted Veewon’s brother Venus Thokchom as saying that a police team reached Veewon’s house in Saket at around 5:20 pm, “beat him up, didn’t give him a chance even to wear his slippers and took him away without informing why and where”.

The report also says on getting to know about the incident, Veewon’s father in Imphal rushed to the local police station where he was told, “Veewon has been picked up for a cyber crime and would be brought to Imphal in a day or two.”

After an hour, the report says, Veewon was traced by his family members and friends at the special branch office of the Delhi police at Janakpuri.

Veewon’s brother Venus, waiting at the police station with MSAD members for more information about the reasons behind the arrest, said, “Police is telling us that he has already been charged under Section 124A (sedition) but we are yet to get a confirmation of it officially. We are waiting for our lawyer.”

Two days ago, in a Facebook post, Veewon said a police team comprising personnel from both Imphal West and East districts arrived at his house in Lamlaimayai Leikai of Imphal around 6 pm, “threatened” his parents, “searched” his room, “took pictures” of his parents and told them to ask him to concentrate only on his education, the report says.

Informing about his detention, the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi (MSAD) on its official Twitter handle on Friday stated that Veewon has been picked up by Delhi police without arrest warrant.