YouTuber Johny Sarungbam has been sent to seven days of police custody till April 12 by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West in connection with a case relating to insulting old-aged women folk on social media platforms.
Youtuber cum blogger cum digital creator, Johny Sarungbam, 37, son of S Chaoba of Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai, Imphal West was arrested on April 5 in connection with a series of viral Facebook posts which directly insulted and intimidated the old aged women folks with intent to outrage reputation and modesty.
A suo-moto was taken up and an FIR registered against him under section 153 A/505(2)/354/500/506/509/120-B IPC for investigation by Imphal PS.
According to police reports, on preliminary interrogation he admitted to having committed the offence charged against him and he disclosed that he intentionally and deliberately posted a series of provocative message and videos through Facebook which directly insulted and intimidated the old aged woman folks as a whole with intent to outrage their modesty and provoke the general public.
ALSO READ: Gathering at bungalow not related to elections: Manipur CM Biren
Investigation revealed that he is a popular Youtuber/blogger/digital creator with over 30,000 followers on his Facebook page “Jhony Sarungbam”. He also has a YouTube channel called “Jhony Sarungbam” with over 1.8 lakh subscribers. Hence, the undernoted accused person is a very influential person, the investigation revealed.
The post he shares on Facebook or YouTube can influence or induce the general public within a very short period, the police report stated.
He posted a series of provocative messages and videos on Facebook amid the crisis misleading the different communities and promoting hatred, enmity, revenge and retaliation at this juncture where the restoration of peace and normalcy is being started in the state, said the police report.
He posted “Kuki nupi na AR camp ta changbaduga eikhoi gi hanubi singna babupara da lakpaga karidabu khetnarigeyne sudhir sahib 2. Hanubi khara yonthokchari. Manipur da thamfam leitrey. Only Rs 500. 3. Rs 500 da Manipur yonbi thunubi sa. Babupara da hanjin hanjin lakeba hanubi sing se yum gi mi singna amukta warakpiyu. Yam ekai etc.”
Police investigation revealed that he has conspired with some unknown criminal syndicates to provoke the general public by using his Facebook page to mislead the general public in order to unrest the entire state of Manipur.
The court, after hearing the police submission, remanded the accused into police custody.
ALSO READ: Check out the prize-winning photos of Imphal Free Press photojournalist Stephen Luwang
