Manipur CM slams Arnab Goswami's arrest, calls it 'politically motivated'

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday slammed the shocking arrest of Republic Media Network's Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami calling it a 'politically motivated act of the Maharashtra Government.' The Chief Minister also labelled Arnab's arrest and assault as 'an attack on press freedom', sharing his message with the hashtag #IndiaWithArnab. 

Read: #IndiaWithArnab: Sign The Petition & Demand An End To This Emergency In Maharashtra

Read: Full Facts Of Motivated, False & Closed Case In Which Arnab Goswami Assaulted & Arrested

Arnab assaulted & arrested by Maharashtra Police 

On Wednesday morning, the entire country witnessed the operation of a police state in Maharashtra. At 7:45 am, Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami house was encircled, his home was barged into, cameras forcefully turned off, he was physically assaulted and dragged out of his home in a police van. Arnab was not served summons prior and not even allowed access to his legal team. 

As Arnab was being manhandled and pushed into a police van, by a battalion of armed police officers, he said, “They hit me. They physically assaulted me. I want to tell the people of India to fight for us.” He said, “my son was beaten-up.”

With regard to his legal team, Arnab Goswami was blocked by the Mumbai Police vis-a-vis having legal aid present. Encounter cop Sachin Vaze declared to Republic TV - Arnab Goswami has been arrested under the grave section of 306 of the IPC, in a mocked-up case. It may be recalled that fake charges of suicide were levelled against Arnab Goswami in 2018. The matter was investigated by the Mumbai Police and closed by a court of law after a closure report by the police noted that no case was made out.

The Mumbai Police also blocked Republic Executive Editor Niranjan Narayanswamy and Senior Associate Editor Sanjay Pathak from entering Arnab's residence. When Niranjan said that it is his right to report, he was thrown out of the building and the Mumbai Police wanted his phone.

Read: 'Arnab's Arrest Symbol Of Totalitarian Tendency To Weaken Democracy,' Blasts Rajnath Singh

Read: HM Amit Shah Condemns Arnab Goswami's Arrest, Says 'attack On Free Press Will Be Opposed'