Hema Chowdhary produced before magistrate in Kohima

“The Nagaland Police is very vigilant and co-operative. They are taking utmost care of me,” says Chowdhary.

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 21 (EMN): The Mumbai-based animal rights activist, Hema Chowdhary, was produced before the magistrate of Kohima through video conferencing on Tuesday, after she was arrested and brought to Kohima on July 20.

Police sources informed Eastern Mirror that considering the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, an online arrangement was made where the accused, who came from red zone, was produced before the magistrate on Tuesday.

The virtual conferencing was arranged as part of the formal production of the accused before the law after her arrest. “She (Hema Chowdhary) will be in police remand for investigation,” said the officer. He added that it would take some time for the officer to finish the process of investigation.

Chowdhary was apprehended at her residence by Oshiwara Police in Mumbai on July 17, following her objectionable remarks against the people of Nagaland in a YouTube video.

It was learnt that a team of Nagaland Police led by a woman officer in the rank of Dy. SP, a male police officer and a woman constable went to Mumbai to bring her to the state.

Chowdhary was booked under Section 153A, Section 153B and Section 505 which deals with the promotion of enmity in society as a criminal offence.

The team brought Chowdhary to Nagaland via an early morning flight from Mumbai, which landed at the Imphal airport in Manipur on Monday, after which she was taken to Kohima at around 9 pm by road.

On reaching the state capital, the Nagaland Police team along with the accused were made to get their samples tested at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), Covid-19 hospital. As per protocols, she was then kept at a quarantine lockup while the police team remained in quarantine.

Sources close to NHAK informed this newspaper that the swabs collected from them are getting tested at the BSL-3 lab while their results are expected to be out after 9 pm on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chowdhary posted on her Facebook account on Monday stating that she had arrived safely in Nagaland. “The Nagaland Police is very vigilant and co-operative. They are taking utmost care of me,” she added on the post.

A police officer also told this newspaper that “she is well taken care”.